Can A Software Developer Afford Rent in Grimes, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 13.6% of gross income.

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

Grimes median rent
$1,435/mo
Software Developer salary (Iowa)
$127,061/yr
Rent as % of income
13.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $10,588, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,177/mo in rent. Grimes's median rent of $1,435 leaves roughly $1,742/mo of headroom under that threshold. A software developer works roughly 23.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a software developer salary

Software developer pay is among the highest of any large occupation, which makes rent affordability comfortable in nearly every US city. The interesting question for developers is not whether they can afford rent, but how much surplus is left after rent in different markets. At the national-average developer salary, the 30% rule supports about $3,453 a month in rent — well above the median rent in even the most expensive US metros. The per-city pages quantify how much paycheck remains after typical local rent at the local developer-pay estimate.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Grimes, which improves the affordability math on a software developer salary:

Johnston, IA
$1,432/mo (13.5% of income)
Johnston, IA
$1,430/mo (13.5% of income)
North Liberty, IA
$1,430/mo (13.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grimes

View full rent data for Grimes, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a software developer afford rent in Grimes, IA?

Median rent in Grimes is $1,435 a month. A typical software developer in Iowa earns about $127,061 a year, which makes that rent 13.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a software developer afford in Grimes?

Using the 30% rule, a software developer salary in Iowa (~$127,061/yr) supports up to $3,177 a month in rent. Grimes's current median rent is $1,435/mo, which leaves a $1,742/mo buffer.

How many hours does a software developer work to cover rent in Grimes?

At an hourly equivalent of about $61 an hour, a software developer in Iowa works roughly 23.5 hours a month to cover Grimes's median rent of $1,435.

Where is rent cheaper than Grimes for a software developer?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Johnston ($1,432/mo), Johnston ($1,430/mo), North Liberty ($1,430/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a software developer salary.

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