Can A Lawyer Afford Rent in Newton, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 7.1% of gross income.

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

Newton median rent
$962/mo
Lawyer salary (Iowa)
$162,352/yr
Rent as % of income
7.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $13,529, and the 30% rule supports up to $4,059/mo in rent. Newton's median rent of $962 leaves roughly $3,097/mo of headroom under that threshold. A lawyer works roughly 12.3 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 Newton, which improves the affordability math on a lawyer salary:

Knoxville, IA
$956/mo (7.1% of income)
Cedar Rapids, IA
$953/mo (7% of income)
Davenport, IA
$952/mo (7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Newton

View full rent data for Newton, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a lawyer afford rent in Newton, IA?

Median rent in Newton is $962 a month. A typical lawyer in Iowa earns about $162,352 a year, which makes that rent 7.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a lawyer afford in Newton?

Using the 30% rule, a lawyer salary in Iowa (~$162,352/yr) supports up to $4,059 a month in rent. Newton's current median rent is $962/mo, which leaves a $3,097/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $78 an hour, a lawyer in Iowa works roughly 12.3 hours a month to cover Newton's median rent of $962.

Where is rent cheaper than Newton for a lawyer?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Knoxville ($956/mo), Cedar Rapids ($953/mo), Davenport ($952/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 Newton, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.