Can A Lawyer Afford Rent in Clinton, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 5.9% of gross income.

Clinton rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Clinton median rent
$792/mo
Lawyer salary (Iowa)
$162,352/yr
Rent as % of income
5.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $13,529, and the 30% rule supports up to $4,059/mo in rent. Clinton's median rent of $792 leaves roughly $3,267/mo of headroom under that threshold. A lawyer works roughly 10.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Clinton, which improves the affordability math on a lawyer salary:

Newton, IA
$788/mo (5.8% of income)
Boone, IA
$786/mo (5.8% of income)
Boone, IA
$771/mo (5.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clinton

View full rent data for Clinton, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a lawyer afford rent in Clinton, IA?

Median rent in Clinton is $792 a month. A typical lawyer in Iowa earns about $162,352 a year, which makes that rent 5.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a lawyer afford in Clinton?

Using the 30% rule, a lawyer salary in Iowa (~$162,352/yr) supports up to $4,059 a month in rent. Clinton's current median rent is $792/mo, which leaves a $3,267/mo buffer.

How many hours does a lawyer work to cover rent in Clinton?

At an hourly equivalent of about $78 an hour, a lawyer in Iowa works roughly 10.1 hours a month to cover Clinton's median rent of $792.

Where is rent cheaper than Clinton for a lawyer?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Newton ($788/mo), Boone ($786/mo), Boone ($771/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a lawyer salary.

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