County FMR · HUD FY2026
Poweshiek County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Poweshiek County, IA - 11% below the US average.
- $853
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $988
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +1.5%
- YoY change
- -11%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Poweshiek is the 28th most expensive of 99 counties in Iowa by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #28
- most expensive of 99 in Iowa (2BR)
- +8%
- vs the state average
- $34,120
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +1.5%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (36%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Poweshiek County, IA. Verify with HUD →
Poweshiek County, Iowa carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $853 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $988/mo and a studio is $733/mo. That's 11% below the national benchmark of $959 and 8% above the Iowa average of $788.
Rent increased1.5% from FY 2025 ($840), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $34,120/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Iowa. Population: 18,608. 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.
What these rents mean for Poweshiek County
The Poweshiek County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Iowa's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 11% below the US average of $959 and 8% higher than the Iowa state average of $788. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$840 in FY 2025 to $853 in FY 2026 - a change of +1.5%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $853, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $34,120 per year (about $2,843/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $988 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 18,608 and a county median household income of $64,837, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $688 | $733 | +$45 (+6.5%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $840 | $853 | +$13 (+1.5%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $934 | $988 | +$54 (+5.8%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,234 | $1,303 | +$69 (+5.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,238 | $1,308 | +$70 (+5.7%) |
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 Poweshiek 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.
Poweshiek County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Poweshiek sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$988 higher than 44% 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 Poweshiek compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Iowa counties
- 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
- Poweshiek
Poweshiek County
$853 1BR FMR / mo
- Linn
Linn County
$816 1BR FMR / mo
- Black Hawk
Black Hawk County
$801 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Poweshiek 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), Poweshiek County (this county) ($853), Linn County ($816), Black Hawk County ($801).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $853/mo compares to Iowa salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | IA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $109,850 | 9.3% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $80,620 | 12.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $76,960 | 13.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $74,290 | 13.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $73,900 | 13.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $62,880 | 16.3% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $55,540 | 18.4% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,080 | 18.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $53,280 | 19.2% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $44,990 | 22.8% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $41,380 | 24.7% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,130 | 28.3% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,030 | 34.1% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $28,500 | 35.9% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,400 | 36% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Poweshiek County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Poweshiek (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 53.7% overall, from $555 to $853. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.4% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑1.5% | $733 | $853 | $988 |
| FY 2025 ↑4.2% | $688 | $840 | $934 |
| FY 2024 ↑10.6% | $661 | $806 | $905 |
| FY 2023 ↑14.4% | $616 | $729 | $843 |
| FY 2022 ↑8.1% | $577 | $637 | $798 |
| FY 2021 ↑6.1% | $555 | $589 | $765 |
| FY 2020 | $529 | $555 | $731 |
Where Poweshiek County Ranks in Iowa
Poweshiek 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 #72 of 99 counties in Iowa. Nearest by rank: Marshall County ($959), Lee County ($962), Washington County ($962), Cedar County ($966), Sioux County ($971), Lucas County ($975), Bremer County ($978), Plymouth County ($980), Poweshiek County (this county) ($988), Hamilton County ($994), Jasper County ($1,008), Buena Vista County ($1,010), Marion County ($1,016), Boone County ($1,026), Davis County ($1,043), Black Hawk County ($1,051), Grundy County ($1,051).
Nearby Counties in Iowa
Largest counties by population in Iowa
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Poweshiek County? ▼
How does Poweshiek County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Poweshiek County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Poweshiek County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Poweshiek County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Poweshiek County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Poweshiek County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Poweshiek County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Poweshiek'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 $853 implies about $34,120/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 Poweshiek 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.