Can A Dental Hygienist Afford Rent in Cedar Falls, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.8% of gross income.

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

Cedar Falls median rent
$1,264/mo
Dental Hygienist salary (Iowa)
$80,509/yr
Rent as % of income
18.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,709, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,013/mo in rent. Cedar Falls's median rent of $1,264 leaves roughly $749/mo of headroom under that threshold. A dental hygienist works roughly 32.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental hygienist salary

Dental hygienist pay covers comfortable rent in most US metros. At the national-average dental-hygienist salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,188 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Cedar Falls, which improves the affordability math on a dental hygienist salary:

Coralville, IA
$1,263/mo (18.8% of income)
Pleasant Hill, IA
$1,262/mo (18.8% of income)
Cedar Rapids, IA
$1,258/mo (18.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cedar Falls

View full rent data for Cedar Falls, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental hygienist afford rent in Cedar Falls, IA?

Median rent in Cedar Falls is $1,264 a month. A typical dental hygienist in Iowa earns about $80,509 a year, which makes that rent 18.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a dental hygienist afford in Cedar Falls?

Using the 30% rule, a dental hygienist salary in Iowa (~$80,509/yr) supports up to $2,013 a month in rent. Cedar Falls's current median rent is $1,264/mo, which leaves a $749/mo buffer.

How many hours does a dental hygienist work to cover rent in Cedar Falls?

At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a dental hygienist in Iowa works roughly 32.7 hours a month to cover Cedar Falls's median rent of $1,264.

Where is rent cheaper than Cedar Falls for a dental hygienist?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Coralville ($1,263/mo), Pleasant Hill ($1,262/mo), Cedar Rapids ($1,258/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental hygienist salary.

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