Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Marshalltown, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.5% of gross income.

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

Marshalltown median rent
$930/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Iowa)
$60,334/yr
Rent as % of income
18.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,028, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Marshalltown's median rent of $930 leaves roughly $578/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 32.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a real estate agent salary

Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Marshalltown, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Davenport, IA
$927/mo (18.4% of income)
Des Moines, IA
$925/mo (18.4% of income)
Davenport, IA
$923/mo (18.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Marshalltown

View full rent data for Marshalltown, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Marshalltown, IA?

Median rent in Marshalltown is $930 a month. A typical real estate agent in Iowa earns about $60,334 a year, which makes that rent 18.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Marshalltown?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Iowa (~$60,334/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Marshalltown's current median rent is $930/mo, which leaves a $578/mo buffer.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Marshalltown?

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a real estate agent in Iowa works roughly 32.1 hours a month to cover Marshalltown's median rent of $930.

Where is rent cheaper than Marshalltown for a real estate agent?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Davenport ($927/mo), Des Moines ($925/mo), Davenport ($923/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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