Cost of Living in Dallas County, Iowa
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Dallas County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Dallas County ranks #2,846 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 9%)
Sourced county brief
Dallas County median gross rent exceeds state unweighted mean
Dallas County's median gross rent was estimated at $1,311 per month, which is above the Iowa unweighted county mean of $832. The median home value in the county is $355,600, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $171,037. For owner-occupied units, the median monthly owner cost is $1,672, while the state unweighted county mean is $950. The median renter-household income was recorded at $66,859. Regarding affordability, the official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 24.9%. This official GRAPI value differs from the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 25.4% by 0.5 percentage points. All figures are based on the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for the period of 2020-2024. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Dallas County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 24.9% of renter household income in Dallas County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,311 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,672. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $52,440 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Iowa unweighted mean of county median rents is $832 per month. Dallas County's $1,311 median is 57.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Dallas County
Rent Burden
15.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,389
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.6%
of gross income
The median home in Dallas County may be a stretch
Median home value is $355,600. Estimated monthly cost: $2,839 vs. your max of $2,389.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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