Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Clinton, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.9% of gross income.

Clinton rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Clinton median rent
$792/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Iowa)
$34,104/yr
Rent as % of income
27.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,842, and the 30% rule supports up to $853/mo in rent. Clinton's median rent of $792 leaves roughly $61/mo of headroom under that threshold. A retail salesperson works roughly 48.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a retail salesperson salary

Retail pay sits below the rent threshold needed for solo apartment living in most US metros, which is the central tension behind the widely studied retail-housing affordability gap. At the national-average retail salary, the 30% rule supports about $927 a month in rent — below the median one-bedroom rent in nearly every metro tracked here. The per-city pages show which markets are least out of reach.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Clinton, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Newton, IA
$788/mo (27.7% of income)
Boone, IA
$786/mo (27.7% of income)
Boone, IA
$771/mo (27.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clinton

View full rent data for Clinton, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Clinton, IA?

Median rent in Clinton is $792 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Iowa earns about $34,104 a year, which makes that rent 27.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Clinton?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Iowa (~$34,104/yr) supports up to $853 a month in rent. Clinton's current median rent is $792/mo, which leaves a $61/mo buffer.

How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Clinton?

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a retail salesperson in Iowa works roughly 48.3 hours a month to cover Clinton's median rent of $792.

Where is rent cheaper than Clinton for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Newton ($788/mo), Boone ($786/mo), Boone ($771/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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