Benton County, IA at a glance
Median household income
$86,962$7,247 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Benton County, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Benton County, IA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Benton County, IA HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $659 | $7,908 | $26,360 | 9.1% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $729 | $8,748 | $29,160 | 10.1% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $956 | $11,472 | $38,240 | 13.2% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,209 | $14,508 | $48,360 | 16.7% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,348 | $16,176 | $53,920 | 18.6% |
What a typical income covers in Benton County, IA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $86,962 a year ($7,247 a month before tax).
What $86,962 leaves after Iowa taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Iowa tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Iowa
Living in Benton County, IA: common questions
What is the median household income in Benton County, IA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Benton County, IA is $86,962 per year (approximately $7,247 per month).
What is the average rent in Benton County, IA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $659 for a studio, $729 for one bedroom, $956 for two, $1,209 for three and $1,348 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Benton County, IA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 11% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 89.0, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Benton County, IA?
To keep a $956 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $38,240 a year, or $3,187 a month. That is 44% of what the typical household in Benton County, IA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Benton County, IA?
On the local median income of $86,962 ($7,247 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,623 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,174 for everything else and $1,449 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $956 takes 26% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Benton County, IA?
Homes in Iowa paid 15.9¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $143. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.