Median gross rent
$981
ACS B25064
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ACS 202419.3× · Rent leans ahead
ACS 202419.3× · Rent leans aheadIowa Rent vs Buy (2026)
Median rent $981/mo vs modeled ownership $1,716/mo. Monthly gap $735; price-to-rent rank #35 of 51.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Iowa rent vs buy snapshot
In Iowa, ACS 2024 median gross rent is about $981/mo (rank #49 of 51) against a $227,300 median owner-occupied home value. The statewide price-to-rent ratio is 19.3× (#35 nationally, where #1 is highest). Modeled ownership runs about $735/mo above median rent before equity. Rent leans ahead on these medians, and the modeled break-even ownership period is about 30 years (rank #27 by shortest break-even). Confirm metro listings, HOA dues, insurance quotes, and how long you will stay before deciding.
Median home value
$227,300
ACS 2024
Price-to-rent
19.3×
#35 nationally
Monthly gap
$735
30 yrs
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Price-to-rent ratios, median rent, modeled ownership, and break-even context.
Breakdown
Rent vs buy on Iowa medians
Renting
- Median gross rent
- $981/mo
- Annual rent
- $11,772/yr
- National rent rank
- #49 of 51
ACS gross rent includes contract rent plus estimated renter-paid utilities. Deposits, renter insurance, parking, and metro premiums above the Iowa median are not included.
Buying (model)
- Principal & interest
- $1,169/mo
- Property tax
- $252/mo
- Insurance
- $106/mo
- Maintenance (1%/yr)
- $189/mo
- Modeled ownership
- $1,716/mo
- Annual ownership
- $20,587/yr
- Property tax rate
- 1.33%
- HO-3 insurance avg.
- $1,268/yr
6.66% 30-year fixed, 20% down on the median home (2026-07-30 Freddie Mac PMMS). HOA defaults to $0; utilities are not in PITI.
Iowa break-even and stay-length context
Modeled break-even is 30 yrs (rank #27 by shortest break-even). That is the first year where modeled home equity exceeds the rent path’s invested cash-to-close. Selling costs and itemized tax deductions are outside this illustration. Plans under ~5 years often still favor renting unless the monthly gap is strongly negative.
Monthly gap (own − rent)
$735/mo
Cash-to-close (illustrative)
$53,416
Gap rank
#40 of 51
Break-even rank
#27 of 51
Who this Iowa rent vs buy page helps
Renters considering a first purchase
Compare Iowa median rent to a current-buyer ownership estimate—not what longtime owners report paying on older mortgages.
People relocating into or out of the state
Use the price-to-rent rank and monthly gap alongside salary and tax tools before locking a lease or offer in Iowa.
Households weighing a short stay
If you may move within a few years, prioritize cash-to-close recovery and selling costs over the long-run equity path.
Iowa rent vs buy checklist
- 1Compare local Iowa rent comps for your unit type—not only the statewide ACS median.
- 2Get written insurance and post-sale property-tax estimates for finalist addresses.
- 3Stress-test ownership with HOA, utilities, PMI (if under 20% down), and a maintenance reserve.
- 4Estimate after-tax pay in-state and compare housing to net income.
- 5If you may move within five years, model agent fees and closing costs on exit.
- 6Cross-check ACS observed owner costs on the Iowa homeownership-cost profile.
How to read these Iowa figures
Medians are not your lease
Studio, suburban, and luxury rents in Iowa can diverge sharply from the statewide ACS median gross rent.
Insurance can dominate
Iowa's HO-3 average ($1,268/yr) is a starting point; catastrophe risk can exceed the statewide mean.
Taxes change after purchase
Reassessment and local levies can push Iowa property tax above the 1.33% effective statewide benchmark.
Important limitations for Iowa
- Statewide ACS medians are not city or neighborhood list prices.
- The buy side is a new-purchase illustration at today's mortgage rate—not ACS selected monthly owner costs for existing owners.
- Federal mortgage-interest and property-tax deductions are not modeled; after-tax results depend on filing status.
- HOA, flood, earthquake, and PMI can change the monthly gap materially.
- Verdict (rent leans ahead) is an educational screen for 2026—confirm local comps before deciding.
Similar price-to-rent states
Related Iowa housing and tax tools
Iowa rent vs buy FAQs
Rent leans ahead on this statewide model. Buying the median home costs about $735/mo more than median rent before equity. Price-to-rent is 19.3×, and the modeled break-even ownership period is about 30 years. Confirm local prices, HOA dues, and how long you will stay.
ACS 2024 median gross rent is about $981/mo (rank #49 of 51), including estimated utilities.
About $1,716/mo including principal and interest at 6.66%, property tax, insurance, and a 1% maintenance reserve on the $227,300 median value.
About 19.3× (rank #35 by ratio, where #1 is highest). Higher ratios often lean toward renting on this metric alone.
About 30 years in this model (rank #27 by shortest break-even). Shorter stays still often favor renting because of cash-to-close.
With 20% down, the down payment is about $45,460. Adding a 3.5% closing-cost illustration brings cash-to-close near $53,416 before moving and reserves.
Yes — ACS gross rent includes contract rent plus estimated average utilities and fuels when paid by the renter.
Ownership exceeds rent by about $735/mo before equity (rank #40 by buy premium, where #1 is the largest ownership premium). Equity and appreciation can still favor buying over a longer stay.
About 1.33% effective owner-occupied property tax from the Tax Foundation series used across this site's housing tools.
About $1,268/year using the NAIC/III average HO-3 premium series shared with the homeownership-cost pages.
No. Every state uses the same Freddie Mac PMMS 6.66% 30-year fixed assumption (as of 2026-07-30) so rankings isolate prices, rents, taxes, and insurance.
No — HOA defaults to $0. Condo and planned-community dues can change the monthly gap materially.
Property tax is in the ownership estimate. State income tax on wages and any capital-gains treatment of a future sale are outside this housing cash-flow model.
No. ACS describes what current owners report. This page models a new buyer at today's rate on the median home value.
Short stays usually favor renting because cash-to-close, selling costs, and early principal paydown take time to recover — even when the long-run model eventually breaks even.
Housing math is only one factor. Wages, taxes, insurance risk, commute, and how long you will stay can erase a statewide rent-vs-buy edge.
Iowa ranks #49 of 51 on ACS median gross rent at $981/mo.
Open the Iowa homeownership cost profile for ACS owner costs and buyer estimates, property tax by state for rates, and cost of living by state for broader COL context.
Yes — use the pair picker on this page or open a compare URL such as Iowa vs Texas (or another priority pair involving Iowa).
Last reviewed 2026-07-30, using ACS 2024 rent and home-value medians with the dated Freddie Mac PMMS mortgage-rate assumption.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Educational planning aid for Iowa statewide medians—not a mortgage, insurance, or tax advice.