The Iowa rental market
Iowa tracks median rent across 32 cities, ranging from Fort Dodge at $804/mo to Le Claire at $2,967/mo. The state average of $1,307/mo runs about 32% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Across Iowa cities, rents are rising, changing an average of +5.1% over the past year. 1 of 35 tracked cities are priced above the national median, while 34 fall below it. The largest rental markets are Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport.
What the numbers show
Rent fell in 0 of 32 Iowa cities Zillow tracks over the year to September 2026, and rose in the rest.
14 cities are at the highest rent in at least three years of Zillow records. See the list.
Among cities with 15,000+ residents, North Liberty ($1,808/mo) costs 2.2 times as much as Fort Dodge ($804/mo).
Across 12 Iowa cities with five or more years of data, asking rents usually bottom out in January and peak in July, a typical swing of 1%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent grew faster than median household income in 2 of 7 Iowa cities with both figures. See where the gap is widest.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Iowa cities, as of September 2026. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates).
Iowa rent questions
What is the average rent in Iowa?
The average median rent across 32 tracked cities in Iowa is $1,307/mo, about 32% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Which Iowa city has the highest rent?
Le Claire has the highest median rent in Iowa at $2,967/mo.
Which Iowa city has the most affordable rent?
Fort Dodge is the most affordable tracked city in Iowa, with a median rent of $804/mo.
Are rents rising or falling in Iowa?
Across Iowa cities, median rents are rising, changing an average of +5.1% over the past year.
How does Iowa rent compare to the rest of the country?
1 of 35 tracked Iowa cities have a median rent above the national median of $1,932/mo, and 34 fall below it.
What are the largest rental markets in Iowa?
By population, the largest rental markets in Iowa are Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport. Each has its own rent data, trends, and ZIP-level breakdowns on RentDataNow.