Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Indianola, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.6% of gross income.

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

Indianola median rent
$1,382/mo
Carpenter salary (Iowa)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
29.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Indianola's median rent of $1,382 leaves roughly $20/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 51.3 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 Indianola, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Grimes, IA
$1,379/mo (29.5% of income)
Grimes, IA
$1,378/mo (29.5% of income)
Grimes, IA
$1,376/mo (29.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Indianola

View full rent data for Indianola, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Indianola, IA?

Median rent in Indianola is $1,382 a month. A typical carpenter in Iowa earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 29.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Indianola?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Iowa (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Indianola's current median rent is $1,382/mo, which leaves a $20/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Iowa works roughly 51.3 hours a month to cover Indianola's median rent of $1,382.

Where is rent cheaper than Indianola for a carpenter?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Grimes ($1,379/mo), Grimes ($1,378/mo), Grimes ($1,376/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 Indianola, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.