RentDataNowRentDataNow

Rent Affordability for A Firefighter in Iowa

A typical firefighter in Iowa earns about $57,785 a year, which supports approximately $1,445 a month in rent under the 30% rule. Below, every tracked Iowa city is ranked by how local rent compares against that affordability ceiling.

As of May 2026. 30 of 35 cities tracked stay within the 30% rule; 5 are rent-burdened on this salary.

City↕Median rent↕% of income↑Affordability
Clinton, IA$792/mo16.4%very comfortable
Fort Dodge, IA$843/mo17.5%very comfortable
Waterloo, IA$898/mo18.6%very comfortable
Marshalltown, IA$930/mo19.3%very comfortable
Knoxville, IA$941/mo19.5%very comfortable
Davenport, IA$949/mo19.7%very comfortable
Boone, IA$947/mo19.7%very comfortable
Newton, IA$962/mo20%very comfortable
Burlington, IA$983/mo20.4%affordable
Adel, IA$1,031/mo21.4%affordable
Pella, IA$1,085/mo22.5%affordable
Dubuque, IA$1,110/mo23.1%affordable
Des Moines, IA$1,121/mo23.3%affordable
Ames, IA$1,125/mo23.4%affordable
Norwalk, IA$1,189/mo24.7%affordable
Urbandale, IA$1,197/mo24.9%affordable
Sioux City, IA$1,216/mo25.3%affordable
Cedar Falls, IA$1,264/mo26.2%affordable
Coralville, IA$1,263/mo26.2%affordable
Marion, IA$1,278/mo26.5%affordable
Cedar Rapids, IA$1,288/mo26.7%affordable
Iowa City, IA$1,308/mo27.2%affordable
Bettendorf, IA$1,327/mo27.6%affordable
Council Bluffs, IA$1,348/mo28%affordable
Pleasant Hill, IA$1,346/mo28%affordable
West Des Moines, IA$1,369/mo28.4%affordable
Johnston, IA$1,382/mo28.7%affordable
Indianola, IA$1,382/mo28.7%affordable
Altoona, IA$1,436/mo29.8%affordable
Grimes, IA$1,435/mo29.8%affordable
Ankeny, IA$1,520/mo31.6%stretched
North Liberty, IA$1,655/mo34.4%stretched
Waukee, IA$1,665/mo34.6%stretched
Tiffin, IA$1,864/mo38.7%stretched
Le Claire, IA$2,900/mo60.2%severely rent-burdened
Methodology: Salary is the BLS-derived state estimate for Iowa. Rent is the latest ZORI monthly value for each city. Affordability uses the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income).