Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Marshalltown, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.9% of gross income.

Marshalltown rent: August 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Marshalltown median rent
$1,024/mo
Carpenter salary (Iowa)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
21.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Marshalltown's median rent of $1,024 leaves roughly $378/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 38 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 Marshalltown, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Urbandale, IA
$1,023/mo (21.9% of income)
Urbandale, IA
$1,023/mo (21.9% of income)
Urbandale, IA
$1,023/mo (21.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Marshalltown

View full rent data for Marshalltown, IA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Marshalltown, IA?

Median rent in Marshalltown is $1,024 a month. A typical carpenter in Iowa earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 21.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Marshalltown?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Iowa (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Marshalltown's current median rent is $1,024/mo, which leaves a $378/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Iowa works roughly 38 hours a month to cover Marshalltown's median rent of $1,024.

Where is rent cheaper than Marshalltown for a carpenter?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Urbandale ($1,023/mo), Urbandale ($1,023/mo), Urbandale ($1,023/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 Marshalltown, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.