Best rent-to-income cities in Iowa

Cities in Iowa ranked by lowest rent as a percentage of median household income. Cities with 15,000+ residents.

Key findings

Urbandale ranks first, with rent at 11.0% of median household income.
Across all 25 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,282/mo.

Data as of September 2026. Twelve months of median rent as a share of Census median household income (5-year estimates). Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)

Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordable Most expensive Rent falling Rent rising Best rent/income Most rent-burdened Record-high rent Seasonal swings Rent vs. income

25 cities

Rank	City	Rent/income	Median rent	Income	Vs. a year ago
01	UrbandaleIA Pop. 47KCompare →	11.0%	$1,038/mo	$112,795	same
02	GrimesIA Pop. 16KCompare →	14.0%	$1,396/mo	$120,037	same
03	JohnstonIA Pop. 24KCompare →	15.3%	$1,356/mo	$106,551	↑1 from #4
04	Fort DodgeIA Pop. 25KCompare →	15.9%	$804/mo	$60,649	↓1 from #3
05	AnkenyIA Pop. 73KCompare →	16.2%	$1,464/mo	$108,198	↑1 from #6
06	IndianolaIA Pop. 16KCompare →	16.4%	$1,034/mo	$75,453	--
07	DavenportIA Pop. 101KCompare →	17.5%	$965/mo	$66,200	↑1 from #8
08	BettendorfIA Pop. 40KCompare →	17.5%	$1,466/mo	$100,495	↓1 from #7
09	MarionIA Pop. 42KCompare →	17.8%	$1,287/mo	$86,743	↓4 from #5
10	West Des MoinesIA Pop. 71KCompare →	18.7%	$1,353/mo	$86,594	same
11	WaterlooIA Pop. 67KCompare →	19.0%	$909/mo	$57,480	↓2 from #9
12	WaukeeIA Pop. 29KCompare →	19.5%	$1,640/mo	$101,029	↓1 from #11
13	DubuqueIA Pop. 59KCompare →	19.6%	$1,073/mo	$65,845	↓1 from #12
14	NewtonIA Pop. 16KCompare →	19.7%	$947/mo	$57,771	--
15	BurlingtonIA Pop. 24KCompare →	20.0%	$983/mo	$59,000	--
16	Des MoinesIA Pop. 212KCompare →	20.5%	$1,129/mo	$65,932	same
17	North LibertyIA Pop. 21KCompare →	21.2%	$1,808/mo	$102,102	↓3 from #14
18	Cedar RapidsIA Pop. 137KCompare →	21.7%	$1,274/mo	$70,424	↓5 from #13
19	Cedar FallsIA Pop. 41KCompare →	21.9%	$1,405/mo	$76,987	↓1 from #18
20	AltoonaIA Pop. 21KCompare →	22.1%	$1,583/mo	$86,114	↓1 from #19
21	Sioux CityIA Pop. 86KCompare →	22.1%	$1,267/mo	$68,906	↓4 from #17
22	CoralvilleIA Pop. 23KCompare →	22.2%	$1,282/mo	$69,144	↓7 from #15
23	AmesIA Pop. 68KCompare →	24.4%	$1,240/mo	$60,991	↓2 from #21
24	Council BluffsIA Pop. 63KCompare →	24.8%	$1,335/mo	$64,578	↓4 from #20
25	Iowa CityIA Pop. 76KCompare →	35.1%	$1,713/mo	$58,546	↓3 from #22