Can A Dental Hygienist Afford Rent in Urbandale, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.8% of gross income.

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

Urbandale median rent
$1,197/mo
Dental Hygienist salary (Iowa)
$80,509/yr
Rent as % of income
17.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,709, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,013/mo in rent. Urbandale's median rent of $1,197 leaves roughly $816/mo of headroom under that threshold. A dental hygienist works roughly 30.9 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 Urbandale, which improves the affordability math on a dental hygienist salary:

Pleasant Hill, IA
$1,196/mo (17.8% of income)
Council Bluffs, IA
$1,195/mo (17.8% of income)
Coralville, IA
$1,191/mo (17.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Urbandale

View full rent data for Urbandale, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental hygienist afford rent in Urbandale, IA?

Median rent in Urbandale is $1,197 a month. A typical dental hygienist in Iowa earns about $80,509 a year, which makes that rent 17.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a dental hygienist afford in Urbandale?

Using the 30% rule, a dental hygienist salary in Iowa (~$80,509/yr) supports up to $2,013 a month in rent. Urbandale's current median rent is $1,197/mo, which leaves a $816/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a dental hygienist in Iowa works roughly 30.9 hours a month to cover Urbandale's median rent of $1,197.

Where is rent cheaper than Urbandale for a dental hygienist?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Pleasant Hill ($1,196/mo), Council Bluffs ($1,195/mo), Coralville ($1,191/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 Urbandale, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.