Polk County, IA at a glance
Median household income
$83,576$6,965 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Polk 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 Polk 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 | 15.3% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,109 | $13,308 | $44,360 | 15.9% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,318 | $15,816 | $52,720 | 18.9% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,794 | $21,528 | $71,760 | 25.8% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,841 | $22,092 | $73,640 | 26.4% |
What a typical income covers in Polk County, IA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $83,576 a year ($6,965 a month before tax).
What $83,576 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 Polk County, IA: common questions
What is the median household income in Polk County, IA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Polk County, IA is $83,576 per year (approximately $6,965 per month).
What is the average rent in Polk 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 Polk 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 Polk 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 63% of what the typical household in Polk County, IA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Polk County, IA?
On the local median income of $83,576 ($6,965 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,482 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,089 for everything else and $1,393 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,318 takes 38% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Polk 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.