Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Urbandale, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.7% of gross income.

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

Urbandale median rent
$1,197/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Iowa)
$55,927/yr
Rent as % of income
25.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,661, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,398/mo in rent. Urbandale's median rent of $1,197 leaves roughly $201/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 44.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a licensed practical nurse salary

LPN pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. At the national-average LPN salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,520 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Urbandale, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Pleasant Hill, IA
$1,196/mo (25.7% of income)
Council Bluffs, IA
$1,195/mo (25.6% of income)
Coralville, IA
$1,191/mo (25.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Urbandale

View full rent data for Urbandale, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Urbandale, IA?

Median rent in Urbandale is $1,197 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Iowa earns about $55,927 a year, which makes that rent 25.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a licensed practical nurse afford in Urbandale?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Iowa (~$55,927/yr) supports up to $1,398 a month in rent. Urbandale's current median rent is $1,197/mo, which leaves a $201/mo buffer.

How many hours does a licensed practical nurse work to cover rent in Urbandale?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Iowa works roughly 44.5 hours a month to cover Urbandale's median rent of $1,197.

Where is rent cheaper than Urbandale for a licensed practical nurse?

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 licensed practical nurse 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.