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

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.7% of gross income.

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

Newton median rent
$992/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Iowa)
$60,334/yr
Rent as % of income
19.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,028, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Newton's median rent of $992 leaves roughly $516/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 34.2 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 Newton, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Burlington, IA
$991/mo (19.7% of income)
Knoxville, IA
$987/mo (19.6% of income)
Burlington, IA
$983/mo (19.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Newton

View full rent data for Newton, IA

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Newton is $992 a month. A typical real estate agent in Iowa earns about $60,334 a year, which makes that rent 19.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Iowa (~$60,334/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Newton's current median rent is $992/mo, which leaves a $516/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a real estate agent in Iowa works roughly 34.2 hours a month to cover Newton's median rent of $992.

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

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Burlington ($991/mo), Knoxville ($987/mo), Burlington ($983/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 Newton, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.