Palo Alto County, IA at a glance
Median household income
$72,781$6,065 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County, IA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Palo Alto County, IA, 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 | $682 | $8,184 | $27,280 | 11.2% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $700 | $8,400 | $28,000 | 11.5% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $919 | $11,028 | $36,760 | 15.2% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,222 | $14,664 | $48,880 | 20.1% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,227 | $14,724 | $49,080 | 20.2% |
Rent in Palo Alto County, IA, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Palo Alto County, IA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $72,781 a year ($6,065 a month before tax).
What $72,781 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 Palo Alto County, IA: common questions
What is the median household income in Palo Alto County, IA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Palo Alto County, IA is $72,781 per year (approximately $6,065 per month).
What is the average rent in Palo Alto County, IA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $682 for a studio, $700 for one bedroom, $919 for two, $1,222 for three and $1,227 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 Palo Alto County, IA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 12.2% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for Iowa is 87.8, 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 Palo Alto County, IA?
To keep a $919 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $36,760 a year, or $3,063 a month. That is 51% of what the typical household in Palo Alto County, IA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Palo Alto County, IA?
On the local median income of $72,781 ($6,065 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,033 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,820 for everything else and $1,213 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $919 takes 30% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Palo Alto 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.