Black Hawk County, IA at a glance
Median household income
$66,417$5,535 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Black Hawk 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 Black Hawk County, IA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Waterloo-Cedar Falls, 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 | $725 | $8,700 | $29,000 | 13.1% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $801 | $9,612 | $32,040 | 14.5% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,051 | $12,612 | $42,040 | 19% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,357 | $16,284 | $54,280 | 24.5% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,763 | $21,156 | $70,520 | 31.9% |
Rent in Black Hawk County, IA, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Black Hawk County, IA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $66,417 a year ($5,535 a month before tax).
What $66,417 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 Black Hawk County, IA: common questions
What is the median household income in Black Hawk County, IA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Black Hawk County, IA is $66,417 per year (approximately $5,535 per month).
What is the average rent in Black Hawk County, IA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $725 for a studio, $801 for one bedroom, $1,051 for two, $1,357 for three and $1,763 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 Black Hawk County, IA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 12.9% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 87.1, 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 Black Hawk County, IA?
To keep a $1,051 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $42,040 a year, or $3,503 a month. That is 63% of what the typical household in Black Hawk County, IA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Black Hawk County, IA?
On the local median income of $66,417 ($5,535 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,767 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,660 for everything else and $1,107 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,051 takes 38% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Black Hawk 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.