Can A Lawyer Afford Rent in Adel, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 7.6% of gross income.
Adel rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).
About rent and a lawyer salary
Lawyer pay covers comfortable rent in every US city, but the surplus after rent varies sharply by metro. Big-law and federal-government lawyer pay clusters in a handful of cities where rent is also highest, which compresses the affordability margin. At the national-average lawyer salary, the 30% rule supports about $4,412 a month in rent — above the median rent in even the most expensive US metro.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Adel, which improves the affordability math on a lawyer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Adel
View full rent data for Adel, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford rent in Adel, IA?
Median rent in Adel is $1,031 a month. A typical lawyer in Iowa earns about $162,352 a year, which makes that rent 7.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a lawyer afford in Adel?
Using the 30% rule, a lawyer salary in Iowa (~$162,352/yr) supports up to $4,059 a month in rent. Adel's current median rent is $1,031/mo, which leaves a $3,028/mo buffer.
How many hours does a lawyer work to cover rent in Adel?
At an hourly equivalent of about $78 an hour, a lawyer in Iowa works roughly 13.2 hours a month to cover Adel's median rent of $1,031.
Where is rent cheaper than Adel for a lawyer?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Marion ($1,029/mo), Boone ($1,027/mo), Pella ($1,026/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a lawyer salary.