County FMR · HUD FY2026
Dallas County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Dallas County, IA - 16% above the US average.
- $1,109
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,318
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +9.0%
- YoY change
- +16%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Dallas is the 8th most expensive of 99 counties in Iowa by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #723 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 9.0% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #723
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #8
- most expensive of 99 in Iowa (2BR)
- +41%
- vs the state average
- $44,360
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (12.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (46.9%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Dallas County, IA. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Dallas County, Iowa is $1,109 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,318/mo and a studio is $1,063/mo. This is 16% higher than the national average of $959 and 41% above the Iowa average of $788.
Rent increased9.0% from FY 2025 ($1,017), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $44,360/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Iowa. Population: 100,367. Population grew 24.0% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Iowa's statewide growth of +2.0% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Dallas County
HUD publishes one FMR schedule per FMR area (often the county). Local housing authorities use it as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard baseline. See how FMR is calculated.
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Dallas County's 2-bedroom of $1,318 ranks #723 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
Rents run meaningfully above the national benchmark: 1-bedroom FMR is 16% higher than the US average of $959 (41% above Iowa's $788). From FY 2025 to FY 2026 the 1-bedroom schedule moved $1,017 → $1,109 (+9.0%), widening an already-expensive gap versus national norms.
At $1,109/mo for a 1-bedroom, the 30% rule wants $44,360/year: still within reach of the county median income of $102,349, though a 2-bedroom at $1,318 raises the bar.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $954 | $1,063 | +$109 (+11.4%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,017 | $1,109 | +$92 (+9.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,216 | $1,318 | +$102 (+8.4%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,632 | $1,794 | +$162 (+9.9%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,638 | $1,841 | +$203 (+12.4%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Dallas County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
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.
Where Dallas sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,318 Top 23% higher than 77% of 3,145 counties
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 Dallas compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Iowa counties
- Dallas
Dallas County
$1,109 1BR FMR / mo
- Polk
Polk County
$1,109 1BR FMR / mo
- Johnson
Johnson County
$961 1BR FMR / mo
- Scott
Scott County
$928 1BR FMR / mo
- Woodbury
Woodbury County
$925 1BR FMR / mo
- Linn
Linn County
$816 1BR FMR / mo
- Black Hawk
Black Hawk County
$801 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Dallas is highlighted. Nearby Iowa counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Dallas County (this county) ($1,109), Polk County ($1,109), Johnson County ($961), Scott County ($928), Woodbury County ($925), Linn County ($816), Black Hawk County ($801).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,109/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Iowa BLS wages?
| Occupation | IA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $109,850 | 12.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $80,620 | 16.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $76,960 | 17.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $74,290 | 17.9% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $73,900 | 18% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $62,880 | 21.2% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $55,540 | 24% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,080 | 24.2% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $53,280 | 25% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $44,990 | 29.6% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $41,380 | 32.2% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,130 | 36.8% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,030 | 44.3% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $28,500 | 46.7% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,400 | 46.9% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Dallas County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Dallas (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 51.9% overall, from $730 to $1,109. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.5% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑9.0% | $1,063 | $1,109 | $1,318 |
| FY 2025 ↑13.1% | $954 | $1,017 | $1,216 |
| FY 2024 ↑1.1% | $833 | $899 | $1,080 |
| FY 2023 ↑15.5% | $791 | $889 | $1,074 |
| FY 2022 ↑4.3% | $658 | $770 | $935 |
| FY 2021 ↑1.1% | $608 | $738 | $902 |
| FY 2020 | $603 | $730 | $900 |
Part of the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area
Dallas County is a central county of the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 5 other metro-area counties.
Dallas County ranks #5 of 6 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Polk County ($1,109), Warren County ($1,109), Madison County ($1,109), Guthrie County ($1,109), Dallas County (this county) ($1,109), Jasper County ($789).
Nearby Counties in Iowa
Largest counties by population in Iowa
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Dallas County? ▼
How does Dallas County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Dallas County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Dallas County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Dallas County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Dallas County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Dallas County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Dallas County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Dallas County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Dallas's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,109 implies about $44,360/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Dallas can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.
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.