Rent rising fastest in Iowa

Cities in Iowa with the largest year-over-year rent increases. Cities with 15,000+ residents. Updated monthly.

Key findings

Cedar Rapids ranks first, with +14.4% over the past year.
Across all 22 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,335/mo.
Waukee moved from #17 to #7 compared with a year ago.

Data as of September 2026. Change in Zillow's rent index over the past 12 months. Rank a year ago uses the change over the 12 months before that. 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

22 cities

Rank	City	1-yr change	Median rent	5-yr change	Vs. a year ago
01	Cedar RapidsIA Pop. 137KCompare →	+14.4%	$1,274/mo	+41.9%	same
02	MarionIA Pop. 42KCompare →	+11.9%	$1,287/mo	+38.1%	↑3 from #5
03	CoralvilleIA Pop. 23KCompare →	+10.8%	$1,282/mo	--	same
04	Fort DodgeIA Pop. 25KCompare →	+9.5%	$804/mo	--	--
05	Iowa CityIA Pop. 76KCompare →	+9.1%	$1,713/mo	+30.5%	↑3 from #8
06	North LibertyIA Pop. 21KCompare →	+7.2%	$1,808/mo	--	↓2 from #4
07	WaukeeIA Pop. 29KCompare →	+5.6%	$1,640/mo	+19.6%	↑10 from #17
08	Sioux CityIA Pop. 86KCompare →	+5.6%	$1,267/mo	--	↑1 from #9
09	WaterlooIA Pop. 67KCompare →	+5.5%	$909/mo	+30.4%	↑3 from #12
10	BettendorfIA Pop. 40KCompare →	+5.1%	$1,466/mo	--	↓3 from #7
11	Cedar FallsIA Pop. 41KCompare →	+4.6%	$1,405/mo	+23.4%	↓1 from #10
12	DavenportIA Pop. 101KCompare →	+4.4%	$965/mo	+21.2%	↑6 from #18
13	DubuqueIA Pop. 59KCompare →	+4.1%	$1,073/mo	--	↓11 from #2
14	GrimesIA Pop. 16KCompare →	+3.4%	$1,396/mo	--	↓1 from #13
15	Council BluffsIA Pop. 63KCompare →	+2.9%	$1,335/mo	--	↓9 from #6
16	West Des MoinesIA Pop. 71KCompare →	+2.6%	$1,353/mo	+17.5%	same
17	AnkenyIA Pop. 73KCompare →	+1.9%	$1,464/mo	+19.7%	↓3 from #14
18	JohnstonIA Pop. 24KCompare →	+1.7%	$1,356/mo	--	--
19	UrbandaleIA Pop. 47KCompare →	+1.6%	$1,038/mo	--	same
20	Des MoinesIA Pop. 212KCompare →	+1.0%	$1,129/mo	+15.2%	↓5 from #15
21	AmesIA Pop. 68KCompare →	+1.0%	$1,240/mo	+19.5%	↓10 from #11
22	AltoonaIA Pop. 21KCompare →	+0.4%	$1,583/mo	--	--