Dallas County, IA at a glance
Median household income
$102,379$8,532 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Dallas 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 Dallas County, IA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Des Moines-West Des Moines, 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 | $1,063 | $12,756 | $42,520 | 12.5% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,109 | $13,308 | $44,360 | 13% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,318 | $15,816 | $52,720 | 15.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,794 | $21,528 | $71,760 | 21% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,841 | $22,092 | $73,640 | 21.6% |
What a typical income covers in Dallas County, IA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $102,379 a year ($8,532 a month before tax).
What $102,379 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 Dallas County, IA: common questions
What is the median household income in Dallas County, IA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Dallas County, IA is $102,379 per year (approximately $8,532 per month).
What is the average rent in Dallas County, IA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,063 for a studio, $1,109 for one bedroom, $1,318 for two, $1,794 for three and $1,841 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 Dallas County, IA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 8.3% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 91.7, 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 Dallas County, IA?
To keep a $1,318 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $52,720 a year, or $4,393 a month. That is 51% of what the typical household in Dallas County, IA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Dallas County, IA?
On the local median income of $102,379 ($8,532 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $4,266 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,559 for everything else and $1,706 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,318 takes 31% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Dallas 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.