County FMR · HUD FY2026

Pottawattamie County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Pottawattamie County, IA - 20% above the US average.

$1,148
1-bedroom FMR
$1,368
2-bedroom FMR
+9.1%
YoY change
+20%
vs US avg

The verdict

Pottawattamie is the 1st most expensive of 99 counties in Iowa by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #598 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 9.1% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#598
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#1
most expensive of 99 in Iowa (2BR)
+46%
vs the state average
$45,920
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (12.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (48.5%).

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

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Pottawattamie County, Iowa is $1,148 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,368/mo and a studio is $1,090/mo. This is 20% higher than the national average of $959 and 46% above the Iowa average of $788.

Rent increased9.1% from FY 2025 ($1,052), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $45,920/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.

Observed renter burden: 40.9% of the 11,128 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: 93,543. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.1%, Census ACS). That's slower than Iowa's statewide growth of +2.0% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area POTTAWATTAMIE·COUNTY·IA·IA

Pottawattamie County, IA: $1,148/mo 1BR · #598 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA IA
  • 1BR-FMR $1,148
  • 2BR-FMR $1,368
  • RANK-MID #598
  • YOY-SURGE +9.1%
  • VSUS-ABOVE +20%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +46% IA
  • INC-ROOM 19%
  • POP-MID 94K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Polk County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,033–$1,263
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Polk ($39 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $738 · US avg: $893
$1,090/mo
↑ 10.1% YoY +48% vs state +22% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $788 · US avg: $959
$1,148/mo
↑ 9.1% YoY +46% vs state +20% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $989 · US avg: $1,175
$1,368/mo
↑ 8.5% YoY +38% vs state +16% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,282 · US avg: $1,525
$1,813/mo
↑ 8.2% YoY +41% vs state +19% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,420 · US avg: $1,756
$2,046/mo
↑ 9.8% YoY +44% vs state +17% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $990
$1,090
+$100 (+10.1%)
1 Bedroom $1,052
$1,148
+$96 (+9.1%)
2 Bedroom $1,261
$1,368
+$107 (+8.5%)
3 Bedroom $1,675
$1,813
+$138 (+8.2%)
4 Bedroom $1,864
$2,046
+$182 (+9.8%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
18.3%
Affordable
Need $43,600/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
19.3%
Affordable
Need $45,920/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
23%
Affordable
Need $54,720/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
30.5%
Burdened
Need $72,520/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
34.4%
Burdened
Need $81,840/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%23%
Pottawattamie County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $71,446 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Iowa rent burden →

Where Pottawattamie sits among every US county

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

$1,368 Top 19% higher than 81% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Pottawattamie compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Iowa counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Pottawattamie is highlighted. Nearby Iowa counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Pottawattamie County (this county) ($1,148), Polk County ($1,109), Johnson County ($961), Scott County ($928), Woodbury County ($925), Linn County ($816), Black Hawk County ($801).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,148/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 12.5% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $80,620 17.1% Affordable
Registered Nurses $76,960 17.9% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $74,290 18.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $73,900 18.6% Affordable
Electricians $62,880 21.9% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $55,540 24.8% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,080 25% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $53,280 25.9% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $44,990 30.6% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $41,380 33.3% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $36,130 38.1% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $30,030 45.9% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $28,500 48.3% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,400 48.5% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Iowa) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Pottawattamie (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 50.7% overall, from $762 to $1,148. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.8% (FY 2023).

$700$800$900$1,000$1,100$1,200 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,148
Pottawattamie County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑9.1% $1,090 $1,148 $1,368
FY 2025 ↑8.3% $990 $1,052 $1,261
FY 2024 ↑9.3% $895 $971 $1,170
FY 2023 ↑11.8% $801 $888 $1,083
FY 2022 ↓0.5% $698 $794 $974
FY 2021 ↑4.7% $695 $798 $987
FY 2020 $650 $762 $946
Total change (6yr): +50.7%
Annualized: +7.1%/yr
1 BR: $762 → $1,148

Part of the Omaha, NE-IA Metro Area

Pottawattamie County is a central county of the Omaha, NE-IA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 7 other metro-area counties.

Pottawattamie County ranks #7 of 8 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Douglas County ($1,148), Sarpy County ($1,148), Cass County ($1,148), Washington County ($1,148), Harrison County ($1,148), Mills County ($1,148), Pottawattamie County (this county) ($1,148), Saunders County ($956).

Douglas County
1 BR: $1,148/mo
Sarpy County
1 BR: $1,148/mo
Cass County
1 BR: $1,148/mo
Washington County
1 BR: $1,148/mo
Harrison County
1 BR: $1,148/mo
Mills County
1 BR: $1,148/mo
Pottawattamie County (this county)
1 BR: $1,148/mo
Saunders County
1 BR: $956/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Pottawattamie 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).

Douglas County
NE · 2 BR $1,368/mo
Sarpy County
NE · 2 BR $1,368/mo
Cass County
NE · 2 BR $1,368/mo
Washington County
NE · 2 BR $1,368/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Jones County
GA · 23% of income · 2 BR $1,307/mo
Scott County
AR · 23% of income · 2 BR $880/mo
Saginaw County
MI · 23% of income · 2 BR $1,117/mo
Clackamas County
OR · 23% of income · 2 BR $1,922/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 Pottawattamie County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Pottawattamie County is $1,148 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,368 and a studio is $1,090.
How does Pottawattamie County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Pottawattamie County is 20% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,148 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Pottawattamie County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Pottawattamie County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,368 ranks #598 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Pottawattamie County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $45,920 ($3,827/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Pottawattamie County.
Is rent going up or down in Pottawattamie County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Pottawattamie County increased by 9.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,052 to $1,148.
Which jobs can afford rent in Pottawattamie 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 $1,148/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Pottawattamie County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Pottawattamie County went from $762 in FY 2020 to $1,148 in FY 2026, a total change of +50.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Pottawattamie County? ▼
In Pottawattamie County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,148/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 Pottawattamie County? ▼
For Pottawattamie County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,148/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.