Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Grimes, IA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.7% of gross income.

Grimes rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Grimes median rent
$1,435/mo
Carpenter salary (Iowa)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
30.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Grimes's median rent of $1,435 exceeds that threshold by $33/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 53.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Grimes, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Johnston, IA
$1,432/mo (30.7% of income)
Johnston, IA
$1,430/mo (30.6% of income)
North Liberty, IA
$1,430/mo (30.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grimes

View full rent data for Grimes, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Grimes, IA?

Median rent in Grimes is $1,435 a month. A typical carpenter in Iowa earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 30.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Grimes?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Iowa (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Grimes's current median rent is $1,435/mo, which is $33/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Grimes?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Iowa works roughly 53.2 hours a month to cover Grimes's median rent of $1,435.

Where is rent cheaper than Grimes for a carpenter?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Johnston ($1,432/mo), Johnston ($1,430/mo), North Liberty ($1,430/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Iowa state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Grimes, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.