Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Newton, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20.6% of gross income.

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

Newton median rent
$962/mo
Carpenter salary (Iowa)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
20.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Newton's median rent of $962 leaves roughly $440/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 35.7 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 Newton, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Knoxville, IA
$956/mo (20.5% of income)
Cedar Rapids, IA
$953/mo (20.4% of income)
Davenport, IA
$952/mo (20.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Newton

View full rent data for Newton, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Newton, IA?

Median rent in Newton is $962 a month. A typical carpenter in Iowa earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 20.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Newton?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Iowa (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Newton's current median rent is $962/mo, which leaves a $440/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Iowa works roughly 35.7 hours a month to cover Newton's median rent of $962.

Where is rent cheaper than Newton for a carpenter?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Knoxville ($956/mo), Cedar Rapids ($953/mo), Davenport ($952/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 Newton, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.