Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Marshalltown, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25% of gross income.

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

Marshalltown median rent
$930/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Iowa)
$44,675/yr
Rent as % of income
25%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,723, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,117/mo in rent. Marshalltown's median rent of $930 leaves roughly $187/mo of headroom under that threshold. A dental assistant works roughly 43.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental assistant salary

Dental assistant pay sits near the US median household income. At the national-average dental-assistant salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,214 a month in rent, which is achievable in most lower- and mid-cost metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Marshalltown, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Davenport, IA
$927/mo (24.9% of income)
Des Moines, IA
$925/mo (24.8% of income)
Davenport, IA
$923/mo (24.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Marshalltown

View full rent data for Marshalltown, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Marshalltown, IA?

Median rent in Marshalltown is $930 a month. A typical dental assistant in Iowa earns about $44,675 a year, which makes that rent 25% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a dental assistant afford in Marshalltown?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Iowa (~$44,675/yr) supports up to $1,117 a month in rent. Marshalltown's current median rent is $930/mo, which leaves a $187/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a dental assistant in Iowa works roughly 43.3 hours a month to cover Marshalltown's median rent of $930.

Where is rent cheaper than Marshalltown for a dental assistant?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Davenport ($927/mo), Des Moines ($925/mo), Davenport ($923/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant 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.