Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Urbandale, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.3% of gross income.

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

Urbandale median rent
$1,197/mo
Plumber salary (Iowa)
$61,732/yr
Rent as % of income
23.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,144, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,543/mo in rent. Urbandale's median rent of $1,197 leaves roughly $346/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 40.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a plumber salary

Plumber pay sits comfortably above the US median household income and covers affordable rent in most US metros. At the national-average plumber salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,678 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local plumber-pay estimates so renters can see where the math works.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Pleasant Hill, IA
$1,196/mo (23.2% of income)
Council Bluffs, IA
$1,195/mo (23.2% of income)
Coralville, IA
$1,191/mo (23.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Urbandale

View full rent data for Urbandale, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Urbandale, IA?

Median rent in Urbandale is $1,197 a month. A typical plumber in Iowa earns about $61,732 a year, which makes that rent 23.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Urbandale?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Iowa (~$61,732/yr) supports up to $1,543 a month in rent. Urbandale's current median rent is $1,197/mo, which leaves a $346/mo buffer.

How many hours does a plumber work to cover rent in Urbandale?

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a plumber in Iowa works roughly 40.3 hours a month to cover Urbandale's median rent of $1,197.

Where is rent cheaper than Urbandale for a plumber?

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 plumber 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.