ZIP 52246
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Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in ZIP 52246 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in September 2022.
Rent in ZIP 52246 changed +14.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 45 Iowa ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.3%.
Rent has risen 14 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($62,521) is $1,563 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,160); a 3-bedroom is $1,610.
1st cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Iowa City.
ZIP 52241, 4 miles away, rents for 21% less ($1,282/mo), about $4,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 52246. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Who lives here
ZIP 52246 (Iowa City, IA) is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 67.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 52246 in Iowa City, IA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in ZIP 52246 in Iowa City, IA paid around $1,236 a month. That figure now sits near $1,619, up 31.0% from the 2023 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 52246 in Iowa City, IA now reports about $62,521, up from $48,507 in 2021. The renter share has eased from 59.6% to 54.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 64.1% to 67.3% across the same window. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 52246 in Iowa City, IA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 52246
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 52246 covers Iowa City, IA. The median rent here is $1,619/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $980/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,160/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($62,521/yr), ZIP 52246 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 14.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 52246 compare to other ZIPs in Iowa?
How does ZIP 52246 compare to the rest of Iowa City?
At $1,619/mo, rent takes ~31% of ZIP 52246's median household income ($62,521/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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