County FMR · HUD FY2026

Clarke County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Clarke County, IA - 16% below the US average.

$803
1-bedroom FMR
$919
2-bedroom FMR
+10.3%
YoY change
-16%
vs US avg

The verdict

Clarke is the 10th cheapest of 99 counties in Iowa by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #504 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 10.3% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#504
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#10
cheapest of 99 in Iowa (2BR)
+2%
vs the state average
$32,120
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (33.9%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Clarke County, IA. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Clarke County, Iowa at $803 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $919/mo and a studio is $682/mo. This is 16% lower than the national average of $959 and 2% above the Iowa average of $788.

Rent increased10.3% from FY 2025 ($728), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $32,120/year.

Observed renter burden: 35.7% of the 1,222 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Iowa. Population: 9,737. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+4.4%, Census ACS). That's faster than Iowa's statewide growth of +2.0% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area CLARKE·COUNTY·IA·IA

Clarke County, IA: $803/mo 1BR · #504 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA IA
  • 1BR-FMR $803
  • 2BR-FMR $919
  • RANK-MID #504
  • YOY-SURGE +10.3%
  • VSUS-BELOW -16%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +2% IA
  • INC-ROOM 14%
  • POP-SMALL 10K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Polk County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $723–$883
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Polk ($306 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $738 · US avg: $893
$682/mo
↑ 5.6% YoY -8% vs state -24% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $788 · US avg: $959
$803/mo
↑ 10.3% YoY +2% vs state -16% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $989 · US avg: $1,175
$919/mo
↑ 4.8% YoY -7% vs state -22% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,282 · US avg: $1,525
$1,222/mo
↑ 5.5% YoY -5% vs state -20% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,420 · US avg: $1,756
$1,227/mo
↑ 5.5% YoY -14% vs state -30% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $646
$682
+$36 (+5.6%)
1 Bedroom $728
$803
+$75 (+10.3%)
2 Bedroom $877
$919
+$42 (+4.8%)
3 Bedroom $1,158
$1,222
+$64 (+5.5%)
4 Bedroom $1,163
$1,227
+$64 (+5.5%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Clarke County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
12.2%
Affordable
Need $27,280/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
14.4%
Affordable
Need $32,120/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
16.5%
Affordable
Need $36,760/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
21.9%
Affordable
Need $48,880/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
22%
Affordable
Need $49,080/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

0%100%National avg22%16.5%
Clarke County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $66,821 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Iowa rent burden →

Where Clarke sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$919 higher than 16% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Above this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How Clarke compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Iowa counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Clarke is highlighted. Nearby Iowa counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Polk County ($1,109), Johnson County ($961), Scott County ($928), Woodbury County ($925), Linn County ($816), Clarke County (this county) ($803), Black Hawk County ($801).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $803/mo, most of these Iowa occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation IA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $109,850 8.8% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $80,620 12% Affordable
Registered Nurses $76,960 12.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $74,290 13% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $73,900 13% Affordable
Electricians $62,880 15.3% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $55,540 17.3% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,080 17.5% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $53,280 18.1% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $44,990 21.4% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $41,380 23.3% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $36,130 26.7% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $30,030 32.1% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $28,500 33.8% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,400 33.9% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Iowa) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Clarke County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Clarke (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 39.7% overall, from $575 to $803. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.0% (FY 2025).

$500$600$700$800$900 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $803
Clarke County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑10.3% $682 $803 $919
FY 2025 ↑11.0% $646 $728 $877
FY 2024 ↓0.8% $630 $656 $862
FY 2023 ↑2.5% $636 $661 $870
FY 2022 ↑8.4% $614 $645 $849
FY 2021 ↑3.5% $569 $595 $784
FY 2020 $548 $575 $757
Total change (6yr): +39.7%
Annualized: +5.7%/yr
1 BR: $575 → $803

Where Clarke County Ranks in Iowa

Clarke County is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #10 of 99 counties in Iowa. Nearest by rank: Appanoose County ($919), Audubon County ($919), Butler County ($919), Calhoun County ($919), Carroll County ($919), Cass County ($919), Cherokee County ($919), Chickasaw County ($919), Clarke County (this county) ($919), Clay County ($919), Clayton County ($919), Crawford County ($919), Decatur County ($919), Delaware County ($919), Emmet County ($919), Fayette County ($919), Floyd County ($919).

Appanoose County
2 BR: $919/mo
Audubon County
2 BR: $919/mo
Butler County
2 BR: $919/mo
Calhoun County
2 BR: $919/mo
Carroll County
2 BR: $919/mo
Cass County
2 BR: $919/mo
Cherokee County
2 BR: $919/mo
Chickasaw County
2 BR: $919/mo
Clarke County (this county)
2 BR: $919/mo
Clay County
2 BR: $919/mo
Clayton County
2 BR: $919/mo
Crawford County
2 BR: $919/mo
Decatur County
2 BR: $919/mo
Delaware County
2 BR: $919/mo
Emmet County
2 BR: $919/mo
Fayette County
2 BR: $919/mo
Floyd County
2 BR: $919/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Clarke County, both outside Iowa so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside IA (FY2026).

McPherson County
KS · 2 BR $920/mo
Saline County
IL · 2 BR $920/mo
Pike County
MO · 2 BR $918/mo
Todd County
KY · 2 BR $918/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside IA).

Stafford County
KS · 16.5% of income · 2 BR $877/mo
Hartley County
TX · 16.5% of income · 2 BR $1,129/mo
Ford County
KS · 16.5% of income · 2 BR $969/mo
Rock County
MN · 16.5% of income · 2 BR $973/mo

Nearby Counties in Iowa

Largest counties by population in Iowa

Showing the 8 largest of 98 other counties in Iowa.

Polk County
1 BR: $1,109/mo Pop: 493,378
Linn County
1 BR: $816/mo Pop: 229,308
Scott County
1 BR: $928/mo Pop: 174,315
Johnson County
1 BR: $961/mo Pop: 153,360
Black Hawk County
1 BR: $801/mo Pop: 131,041
Woodbury County
1 BR: $925/mo Pop: 105,526
Dallas County
1 BR: $1,109/mo Pop: 100,367
Dubuque County
1 BR: $841/mo Pop: 98,812
View all counties in Iowa →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Clarke County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Clarke County is $803 per month. A 2-bedroom is $919 and a studio is $682.
How does Clarke County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Clarke County is 16% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $803 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Clarke County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Clarke County's 2-bedroom FMR of $919 ranks #504 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the lower-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Clarke County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $32,120 ($2,677/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Clarke County.
Is rent going up or down in Clarke County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Clarke County increased by 10.3% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $728 to $803.
Which jobs can afford rent in Clarke County? ▼
Based on Iowa BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $803/mo. 12 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Clarke County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Clarke County went from $575 in FY 2020 to $803 in FY 2026, a total change of +39.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Clarke County? ▼
In Clarke County, the FY 2026 FMR of $803/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Clarke County? ▼
For Clarke County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($803/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.