Iowa Rental Market Trends
What is the average rent in Iowa?
The average rent for an apartment in Iowa is $1,239. The cost of rent varies depending on several factors, including location, size, and quality.
Average rent in Iowa
Last updated March 2025
| Average Rent | Average Apartment Size |
|---|---|
| $1,239 | 897 sq. ft. |
What is the average apartment size in Iowa?
The average size for an Iowa apartment is 897 square feet, but this number varies greatly depending on unit type, with cheap and luxury alternatives for houses and apartments alike. Studio apartments are the smallest and most affordable, 1-bedroom apartments are closer to the average, while 2-bedroom apartments and 3-bedroom apartments offer a more generous square footage.
Iowa apartment rent ranges
Iowa Occupied Housing Units
742,290 or 28% of the households in Iowa are renter-occupied while 1,865,236 or 72% are owner-occupied.
Iowa rent trends
Average Rent in Iowa By City
| City | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Iowa City | $1,415 |
| Waukee | $1,384 |
| Ames | $1,325 |
| Ankeny | $1,300 |
| West Des Moines | $1,247 |
| Council Bluffs | $1,216 |
| Norwalk | $1,172 |
| Des Moines | $1,080 |
| Indianola | $914 |
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What are the most affordable cities in Iowa?
The most affordable cities in Iowa are Indianola, where the average rent goes for $914/month, Des Moines, where renters pay $1,080/mo on average, and Norwalk, where the average rent goes for $1,172/mo. If you’re looking for other great deals, check out the listings from Council Bluffs ($1,216), West Des Moines ($1,247), and Ankeny ($1,300), where the asking prices are below the average Iowa rent of $1,239/mo.
What are the most expensive cities in Iowa?
The most expensive cities in Iowa are Ames ($1,325), Waukee ($1,384) and Iowa City ($1,415).
What are the most popular cities in Iowa?
The most popular city in Iowa is Des Moines, where there are 47 listings with an average rent of $1,080. Next up is Waukee, where apartments go for $1,384/month, followed by West Des Moines with $1,247 If you’re looking to rent in Iowa’s most popular cities, make sure to also check out Ankeny, where renters pay $1,300 on average, and Council Bluffs, where the average monthly rent is $1,216.
Iowa | Rent Comparison by City
Rent in Ames is 2% higher than in Ankeny
$1,325
Ames rent is 7% higher than Iowa average
Average Rent
$1,325
$1,300
Ankeny rent is 5% higher than Iowa average
Average Rent
$1,300
How Iowa Compares to Other States
| State | Average Rent | Average Apartment Size |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,289 | 988 sq. ft. |
| Arizona | $1,580 | 856 sq. ft. |
| Arkansas | $1,114 | 891 sq. ft. |
| California | $2,605 | 853 sq. ft. |
| Colorado | $1,856 | 873 sq. ft. |
| Connecticut | $2,062 | 886 sq. ft. |
| Delaware | $1,670 | 916 sq. ft. |
| District of Columbia | $2,524 | 746 sq. ft. |
| Florida | $1,985 | 976 sq. ft. |
| Georgia | $1,627 | 1,018 sq. ft. |
| Idaho | $1,614 | 919 sq. ft. |
| Illinois | $1,991 | 835 sq. ft. |
| Indiana | $1,327 | 908 sq. ft. |
| Iowa | $1,239 | 897 sq. ft. |
| Kansas | $1,272 | 903 sq. ft. |
| Kentucky | $1,312 | 933 sq. ft. |
| Louisiana | $1,250 | 918 sq. ft. |
| Maryland | $1,872 | 905 sq. ft. |
| Massachusetts | $2,846 | 884 sq. ft. |
| Michigan | $1,370 | 917 sq. ft. |
| Minnesota | $1,597 | 887 sq. ft. |
| Mississippi | $1,295 | 1,009 sq. ft. |
| Missouri | $1,302 | 898 sq. ft. |
| Montana | $1,666 | 878 sq. ft. |
| Nebraska | $1,300 | 933 sq. ft. |
| Nevada | $1,541 | 903 sq. ft. |
| New Hampshire | $2,155 | 879 sq. ft. |
| New Jersey | $2,381 | 864 sq. ft. |
| New Mexico | $1,386 | 831 sq. ft. |
| New York | $2,807 | 846 sq. ft. |
| North Carolina | $1,548 | 971 sq. ft. |
| North Dakota | $1,118 | 959 sq. ft. |
| Ohio | $1,301 | 898 sq. ft. |
| Oklahoma | $1,048 | 857 sq. ft. |
| Oregon | $1,746 | 843 sq. ft. |
| Pennsylvania | $1,750 | 889 sq. ft. |
| Rhode Island | $2,149 | 925 sq. ft. |
| South Carolina | $1,610 | 1,007 sq. ft. |
| South Dakota | $1,170 | 901 sq. ft. |
| Tennessee | $1,513 | 947 sq. ft. |
| Texas | $1,452 | 885 sq. ft. |
| Utah | $1,594 | 915 sq. ft. |
| Virginia | $1,968 | 922 sq. ft. |
| Washington | $2,036 | 829 sq. ft. |
| Wisconsin | $1,590 | 910 sq. ft. |
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Popular Cities in Iowa
- Apartments in Ames $1,325
- Apartments in Ankeny $1,300
- Apartments in Council Bluffs $1,216
- Apartments in Des Moines $1,080
- Apartments in Indianola $914
- Apartments in Iowa City $1,415
- Apartments in Norwalk $1,172
- Apartments in Waukee $1,384
- Apartments in West Des Moines $1,247