State rental market reference · Data updated October 18, 2026
Iowa rental market for DSCR investors: rent, taxes and insurance by county
What a rental in Iowa rents for, what it costs to carry, and whether it stays rented, from official data for all 99 counties. Read it before you price a deal here.
Iowa at a glance
What does a rental rent for?
$1,066 a month
HUD's FY2027 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent where most of Iowa's renters live, from $927 (Cerro Gordo County) to $1,450 (Mills County). It is the government figure for a modest 2-bedroom unit, utilities included, not the rent for a house.
What will property taxes cost?
1.39% of value a year
Homeowners in Iowa pay a median $2,897 a year on a median home value of $208,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024). A rental can be taxed at a different rate than an owner's home; the local tax bill is the real number.
What will insurance cost?
$1,250 a year
The median that homeowners with a mortgage in Iowa report paying for homeowners insurance (Census ACS 2020–2024). It is not a landlord quote: a rental policy usually costs more, and flood cover is extra.
Will it stay rented?
5.7% rental vacancy
Share of Iowa's rental homes vacant and for rent (Census ACS 2020–2024), across 372,311 renter households. Lower means rentals fill faster.
Are jobs growing?
Employment down 1.0% in a year
Employed residents in August 2026 against a year earlier; unemployment 3.6% (BLS, not seasonally adjusted, so compare the same month a year apart).
Is new supply coming?
13,664 homes permitted in 2025
About 10.4 new homes per 1,000 households; 54% single-family (Census Building Permits Survey). More new homes means more competition for tenants and buyers.
How often does it flood?
8,133 flood claims since 2005
National Flood Insurance Program claims on properties in Iowa since 2005, $295.8 million paid (FEMA). Claims show where water has reached insured buildings; they are not a flood map, so check the FEMA flood zone for the address.
What it means for a DSCR rental in Iowa
A lender's DSCR is the monthly rent divided by the full monthly payment: principal, interest, property taxes, insurance and any HOA dues. Many lenders accept 1.00x; 1.20x leaves a cushion.
Take a home at Iowa's median value of $208,000, bought with 25% down on a 7.5% 30-year loan, with the state's typical tax rate and insurance:
- Principal and interest ($156,000 loan)
- $1,091
- Property taxes
- $241
- Insurance
- $104
- Full monthly payment
- $1,436
- Rent for a 1.20x DSCR
- $1,720 a month
The government 2-bedroom figure where most of Iowa's renters live is $1,066 a month, below the $1,720 that home needs. A house usually rents for more than a 2-bedroom unit, so price the house you are looking at with its own rent. The last column of the table below gives the same figure for each county.
Rules and costs a landlord faces in Iowa
Each line quotes the official source it comes from and the date it was last checked. These are general rules, not legal advice; local rules can add to them.
- How long before you can file to evict for unpaid rent?
3 calendar days' notice for unpaid rent before an eviction can be filed.
If rent is unpaid when due and the tenant fails to pay rent within three days after written notice by the landlord of nonpayment and the landlord’s intention to terminate the rental agreement if the rent is not paid within that period of time, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement.
Iowa Legislature, checked October 18, 2026
- How large a security deposit can you take?
Up to 2 months' rent.
A landlord shall not demand or receive as a security deposit an amount or value in excess of two months’ rent.
Iowa Legislature, checked October 18, 2026
- How fast must the deposit come back?
Within 30 days after the tenancy ends.
A landlord shall, within thirty days from the date of termination of the tenancy and receipt of the tenant’s mailing address or delivery instructions, return the rental deposit to the tenant or furnish to the tenant a written statement...
Iowa Legislature, checked October 18, 2026
- Can rents be capped?
State law bars cities and counties from capping rents.
A city shall not adopt or enforce any ordinance imposing any limitation on the amount of rent that can be charged for leasing private residential or commercial property.
Iowa Legislature, checked October 18, 2026
- Is a rental taxed like the owner's home?
A rental does not get the owner's homestead benefit.
The homestead includes the dwelling house which the owner, in good faith, is occupying as a home on July 1 of the year for which the credit is claimed and occupies as a home for at least six months during the calendar year in which the fiscal year begins, except as otherwise provided.
Iowa Legislature, checked October 18, 2026
Market hubs in Iowa
DSCRInfo does not publish a monthly market hub in Iowa yet. The figures above and the table below cover every county; the market hubs cover other states.
Iowa by county
All 99 counties, most renter households first. "Rent for 1.20x" is the monthly rent a home at that county's median value needs on the example loan above. A dash means the source publishes no reliable figure there.
| County | 2-bed FMR | Property tax | Insurance / yr | Rental vacancy | Jobs, 1 yr | Permits | Flood claims | Rent for 1.20x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | $1,360 | 1.68% | $1,240 | 5.5% | -1.5% | 4,730 | 587 | $2,210 |
| Johnson County | $1,180 | 1.52% | $1,290 | 6.5% | -1.5% | 1,241 | 291 | $2,540 |
| Linn County | $1,054 | 1.66% | $1,230 | 9.4% | -1.7% | 941 | 1,075 | $1,830 |
| Scott County | $1,056 | 1.47% | $1,210 | 5.6% | -1.9% | 372 | 914 | $1,840 |
| Black Hawk County | $1,096 | 1.50% | $1,160 | 6.5% | -3.1% | 488 | 732 | $1,590 |
| Story County | $1,061 | 1.40% | $1,320 | 6.6% | -1.1% | 185 | 137 | $2,120 |
| Dallas County | $1,360 | 1.41% | $1,390 | 6.7% | -1.4% | 875 | 29 | $2,880 |
| Woodbury County | $1,194 | 1.45% | $1,230 | 5.1% | -0.5% | 238 | 69 | $1,540 |
| Pottawattamie County | $1,450 | 1.57% | $1,380 | 1.9% | +0.2% | 334 | 387 | $1,680 |
| Dubuque County | $1,131 | 1.23% | $1,230 | 2.1% | +0.2% | 334 | 113 | $1,910 |
| Cerro Gordo County | $927 | 1.45% | $1,240 | 3.3% | -1.7% | 116 | 105 | $1,410 |
| Clinton County | $927 | 1.53% | $1,170 | 4.7% | -1.5% | 85 | 88 | $1,370 |
| Webster County | $927 | 1.39% | $1,310 | 4.8% | +1.3% | 23 | 49 | $1,310 |
| Muscatine County | $1,093 | 1.50% | $1,240 | 5.5% | -1.5% | 119 | 205 | $1,540 |
| Wapello County | $1,076 | 1.58% | $1,150 | 10.5% | -2.1% | 42 | 96 | $1,100 |
| Des Moines County | $1,104 | 1.51% | $1,130 | 4.5% | -1.0% | 81 | 296 | $1,180 |
| Jasper County | $989 | 1.41% | $1,290 | 5.9% | -0.7% | 80 | 36 | $1,560 |
| Marshall County | $940 | 1.42% | $1,280 | 7.9% | +0.3% | 33 | 16 | $1,250 |
| Warren County | $1,360 | 1.43% | $1,370 | 9.7% | -1.4% | 465 | 20 | $2,220 |
| Lee County | $976 | 1.38% | $1,220 | 7.4% | +0.9% | 80 | 70 | $1,210 |
| Sioux County | $1,000 | 1.12% | $1,250 | 0.4% | -2.1% | 359 | 43 | $1,980 |
| Marion County | $1,021 | 1.22% | $1,340 | 5.5% | -1.4% | 339 | 23 | $1,880 |
| Mahaska County | $946 | 1.32% | $1,260 | 2.5% | +0.0% | 66 | 10 | $1,330 |
| Plymouth County | $1,018 | 1.07% | $1,310 | 3.3% | +0.2% | 45 | 21 | $1,820 |
| Washington County | $1,002 | 1.37% | $1,240 | 4.3% | -0.6% | 25 | 14 | $1,690 |
Show the other 74 counties
| County | 2-bed FMR | Property tax | Insurance / yr | Rental vacancy | Jobs, 1 yr | Permits | Flood claims | Rent for 1.20x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poweshiek County | $1,014 | 1.22% | $1,300 | 2.2% | +3.2% | 44 | 0 | $1,700 |
| Jefferson County | $1,096 | 1.41% | $1,160 | 2.9% | -3.7% | 2 | 0 | $1,370 |
| Boone County | $967 | 1.37% | $1,310 | 10.8% | -0.5% | 207 | 18 | $1,760 |
| Winneshiek County | $927 | 1.12% | $1,280 | 4.7% | +1.2% | 35 | 29 | $2,050 |
| Buena Vista County | $1,031 | 1.21% | $1,270 | 10.8% | +2.3% | 16 | 0 | $1,320 |
| Carroll County | $927 | 1.09% | $1,230 | 3.8% | -0.8% | 36 | 5 | $1,420 |
| Dickinson County | $1,091 | 0.92% | $1,150 | 0.4% | -1.9% | 117 | 15 | $2,070 |
| Henry County | $958 | 1.56% | $1,250 | 9.8% | -1.2% | 32 | 1 | $1,420 |
| Bremer County | $1,023 | 1.29% | $1,290 | 5.6% | -2.2% | 46 | 428 | $1,790 |
| Fayette County | $940 | 1.30% | $1,170 | 5.9% | -0.3% | 30 | 54 | $1,160 |
| Clay County | $927 | 1.15% | $1,230 | 8.9% | -0.3% | 61 | 71 | $1,450 |
| Hardin County | $927 | 1.37% | $1,200 | 4.5% | +0.7% | 18 | 14 | $1,060 |
| Page County | $927 | 1.41% | $1,310 | 6.6% | +0.2% | 12 | 3 | $1,100 |
| Hamilton County | $1,004 | 1.26% | $1,320 | 7.1% | +1.3% | 12 | 24 | $1,310 |
| Cass County | $927 | 1.34% | $1,200 | 6.2% | +0.7% | 11 | 19 | $1,270 |
| Clayton County | $927 | 1.29% | $1,160 | 2.9% | -1.7% | 55 | 95 | $1,390 |
| Appanoose County | $927 | 1.34% | $1,210 | 2.0% | -1.2% | 11 | 6 | $1,070 |
| Iowa County | $927 | 1.36% | $1,370 | 3.4% | -2.4% | 9 | 29 | $1,620 |
| Tama County | $945 | 1.37% | $1,290 | 7.2% | -0.4% | 5 | 95 | $1,270 |
| Jones County | $927 | 1.33% | $1,310 | 8.3% | -0.4% | 18 | 91 | $1,540 |
| Jackson County | $927 | 1.23% | $1,240 | 2.5% | -1.4% | 32 | 21 | $1,440 |
| Benton County | $982 | 1.31% | $1,340 | 6.9% | -1.1% | 28 | 95 | $1,720 |
| Crawford County | $927 | 1.28% | $1,240 | 0.8% | -1.1% | 19 | 13 | $1,290 |
| Floyd County | $927 | 1.34% | $1,290 | 2.5% | +0.5% | 77 | 164 | $1,220 |
| Delaware County | $927 | 1.34% | $1,270 | 0.5% | +0.1% | 33 | 84 | $1,480 |
| Buchanan County | $937 | 1.36% | $1,230 | 7.8% | -0.9% | 62 | 120 | $1,470 |
| Union County | $927 | 1.80% | $1,180 | 5.8% | -0.3% | 23 | 11 | $1,110 |
| Montgomery County | $927 | 1.65% | $1,270 | 2.7% | -2.7% | 29 | 57 | $1,090 |
| Cedar County | $969 | 1.22% | $1,210 | 2.4% | -0.6% | 67 | 24 | $1,710 |
| Kossuth County | $954 | 1.00% | $1,230 | 8.0% | -0.1% | 4 | 1 | $1,200 |
| Harrison County | $1,450 | 1.32% | $1,280 | 0.6% | +0.9% | 20 | 113 | $1,470 |
| O'Brien County | $927 | 0.98% | $1,370 | 5.6% | +0.0% | 18 | 4 | $1,400 |
| Winnebago County | $927 | 1.32% | $1,220 | 1.6% | -4.7% | 4 | 0 | $1,150 |
| Madison County | $1,360 | 1.48% | $1,430 | 0.0% | -0.7% | 66 | 2 | $2,050 |
| Cherokee County | $927 | 0.99% | $1,210 | 1.7% | -2.1% | 56 | 112 | $1,280 |
| Wright County | $944 | 1.51% | $1,380 | 13.9% | +1.1% | 19 | 2 | $1,070 |
| Allamakee County | $927 | 1.27% | $1,190 | 6.0% | -2.8% | 98 | 15 | $1,420 |
| Franklin County | $927 | 1.32% | $1,290 | 5.1% | +1.1% | 3 | 2 | $1,070 |
| Clarke County | $946 | 1.60% | $1,110 | 6.2% | -0.7% | 138 | 0 | $1,380 |
| Shelby County | $927 | 1.28% | $1,300 | 8.2% | +1.6% | 3 | 1 | $1,370 |
| Humboldt County | $927 | 1.29% | $1,340 | 0.7% | +0.1% | 14 | 28 | $1,320 |
| Chickasaw County | $927 | 1.02% | $1,280 | 6.1% | +0.8% | 8 | 29 | $1,460 |
| Sac County | $927 | 1.10% | $1,200 | 4.3% | +2.8% | 14 | 0 | $1,170 |
| Monona County | $927 | 1.03% | $1,100 | 3.5% | -1.3% | 7 | 27 | $1,160 |
| Butler County | $927 | 1.35% | $1,230 | 13.9% | -1.7% | 18 | 241 | $1,390 |
| Decatur County | $927 | 1.61% | $1,150 | 5.0% | -4.2% | 1 | 2 | $1,020 |
| Greene County | $927 | 1.15% | $1,160 | 0.0% | -0.4% | 6 | 1 | $1,270 |
| Mitchell County | $927 | 1.10% | $1,240 | 5.0% | -0.4% | 37 | 18 | $1,420 |
| Mills County | $1,450 | 1.47% | $1,580 | 2.1% | +0.3% | 25 | 60 | $2,000 |
| Palo Alto County | $927 | 1.20% | $1,220 | 7.7% | +0.9% | 6 | 4 | $1,050 |
| Lyon County | $945 | 0.87% | $1,110 | 14.1% | +1.1% | 41 | 54 | $1,760 |
| Howard County | $927 | 1.25% | $1,180 | 0.3% | +4.6% | 6 | 7 | $1,230 |
| Adair County | $954 | 1.28% | $1,400 | 5.1% | +6.6% | 23 | 0 | $1,350 |
| Emmet County | $927 | 1.47% | $1,140 | 9.3% | -0.6% | 14 | 10 | $1,000 |
| Louisa County | $927 | 1.17% | $1,230 | 0.1% | +0.6% | 21 | 78 | $1,240 |
| Ida County | $927 | 1.16% | $1,060 | 5.6% | +0.7% | 2 | 8 | $920 |
| Hancock County | $927 | 1.18% | $1,190 | 0.0% | -1.5% | 7 | 0 | $1,180 |
| Grundy County | $1,096 | 1.14% | $1,260 | 10.6% | -1.2% | 20 | 10 | $1,600 |
| Lucas County | $951 | 1.37% | $1,190 | 1.4% | -2.3% | 2 | 2 | $1,040 |
| Calhoun County | $927 | 1.32% | $1,250 | 8.8% | +2.9% | 13 | 0 | $1,030 |
| Keokuk County | $927 | 1.26% | $1,210 | 3.9% | +1.0% | 1 | 0 | $1,020 |
| Guthrie County | $1,360 | 1.22% | $1,440 | 7.4% | -0.3% | 33 | 6 | $1,500 |
| Pocahontas County | $927 | 1.13% | $1,180 | 6.4% | +1.7% | 0 | 0 | $850 |
| Audubon County | $927 | 1.34% | $1,240 | 2.8% | +0.4% | 7 | 1 | $1,050 |
| Fremont County | $927 | 1.21% | $1,320 | 1.9% | +0.9% | 15 | 197 | $1,290 |
| Osceola County | $927 | 1.13% | $1,280 | 0.0% | +2.0% | 3 | 2 | $1,040 |
| Monroe County | $927 | 1.37% | $1,380 | 1.3% | +1.9% | 12 | 0 | $1,340 |
| Taylor County | $927 | 1.26% | $1,140 | 1.4% | +1.8% | 4 | 4 | $1,000 |
| Davis County | $1,066 | 1.40% | $1,110 | 5.5% | +0.7% | 1 | 0 | $1,360 |
| Worth County | $927 | 1.10% | $1,220 | 1.3% | -1.1% | 5 | 2 | $1,200 |
| Van Buren County | $950 | 1.18% | $1,390 | 3.3% | -0.1% | 5 | 40 | $1,000 |
| Wayne County | $927 | 1.36% | $990 | 7.5% | +2.7% | 3 | 0 | $950 |
| Ringgold County | $927 | 1.34% | $1,430 | 5.2% | +2.0% | 6 | 0 | $1,340 |
| Adams County | $943 | 1.26% | $1,370 | 7.6% | +0.7% | 12 | 6 | $1,130 |
Where these numbers come from
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents, in effect from October 1, 2026: the rent and utilities of a modest 2-bedroom unit, set for housing vouchers. It is not a house rent. Where HUD publishes by town (New England), the county shows the range. HUD Fair Market Rents
- Property tax, insurance, vacancy and home value
- Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. Property tax is the median tax paid divided by the median home value of owner-occupied homes. Insurance is the median that owners with a mortgage report paying, not a landlord quote. Rental vacancy is homes vacant for rent divided by all rental homes. Figures from too few homes are left blank. American Community Survey
- Jobs
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employed residents in August 2026 against the same month a year earlier, not seasonally adjusted. BLS LAUS
- Permits
- Census Building Permits Survey: new housing units authorized in 2025, all building sizes. Building Permits Survey
- Flood claims
- FEMA National Flood Insurance Program claims with a loss in 2005 or later, and the net amount paid. Only insured buildings appear. Check a flood zone
These are screening figures for comparing places, not a quote, an appraisal or a loan offer. Iowa total flood payments since 2005: $295.8 million.