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Boone County, IA

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Boone County, IA is $1,026 per month, ranking #565 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $79,741, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 15.4% of income on housing. Rent in Boone County has increased 14.0% year over year. The area has a population of 27K, with 18.9% of households renting.

15.4%
Affordable
of income → rent
$1,026
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$79,741
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$826
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+14%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
27K
Population
Census ACS
18.9%
Renters
of occupied housing
$191,200
Median Home Value
2.7%
Unemployment
BLS LAUS
8.9%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
6.7%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$783
Studio
$788
1 Bedroom
$1,026
2 Bedroom
$1,427
3 Bedroom
$1,500
4 Bedroom

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality units in an area. FMRs are used to determine payment standards for the Housing Choice Voucher program and other federal housing assistance.

Housing Affordability

In Boone County, IA, a household earning the area median income of $79,741 would spend 15.4% of their gross income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This falls below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, meaning housing is relatively affordable for median-income households in this area.

Income Needed for 2BR
$41,040
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$20
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$826
$200 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+26.7% since 2022
$8102022$8832023$9002024$9302025$1,0262026

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent by fiscal year. Source: HUD FMR API.

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Iowa is $7.25/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 108.9 hours per week to afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding 30% of income on housing. This means a single minimum-wage earner cannot afford a 2-bedroom working a standard 40-hour week. The poverty rate in Boone County is 6.7%, below the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$7.25/hr
Hours/Week Needed
108.9 hrs
Poverty Rate
6.7%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Boone County is $191,200. At a median income of $79,741, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 2.4x. 8.9% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is near the national average. The local unemployment rate is 2.7%, below the national average, indicating a relatively strong local labor market.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,338 est. mortgage
vs $1,026 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
8.9%
of housing units
Unemployment
2.7%
BLS, latest available

Other Areas in Iowa

Omaha-Council Bluffs
$1,368/mo
2BR FMR · 19.8% burden
Des Moines-West Des Moines
$1,318/mo
2BR FMR · 18.8% burden
Sioux City
$1,154/mo
2BR FMR · 19.2% burden
Ames
$1,153/mo
2BR FMR · 19.5% burden
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island
$1,143/mo
2BR FMR · 19.1% burden

Compare Boone County

vs Omaha-Council Bluffs, IAvs Des Moines-West Des Moines, IAvs Sioux City, IA

Areas With Similar Rent to Boone County

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Boone County, IA is $1,026 per month. A studio is $783/mo, a 1-bedroom is $788/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,427/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $826/mo.

Boone County has a rent burden of 15.4%, meaning a household earning the median income of $79,741 would spend 15.4% of income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This is below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, indicating relatively affordable housing. To afford a 2-bedroom without being cost-burdened, a household would need an annual income of at least $41,040.

Boone County's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,026/mo is $224 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Boone County ranks #565 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Boone County without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $41,040, or a full-time hourly wage of $20/hour. The area median income is $79,741.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Boone County increased by 14.0% compared to the prior year. This is a significant increase, suggesting growing demand in the local housing market.

Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality rental units. Rent burden is calculated as annual 2BR FMR divided by area median household income. Census data (income, home value, population, vacancy) is from the ACS 5-Year estimates. Unemployment rates are from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.