States › Iowa › Adel

Is Adel, IA expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 12 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,02442% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$102,727about $8,561/month · 18% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$327,9001% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 86% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.2 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $40,960 a year. That is $20 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Iowa cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Iowa. It is number 35 of 86 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Adel
$1,024
Orange City
$850
Independence
$907
Atlantic
$865
Maquoketa
$879
Eldridge
$1,045
Polk City
$865

How much do households earn in Adel?

Under $25k
7.1%
$25k–50k
18.5%
$50k–100k
34.9%
$100k–150k
25.2%
$150k+
8.2%

Share of households by yearly income. 33.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Adel

SizeAdelU.S. average
1 bedroom$758$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,001$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,443$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Adel overall?

Everyday prices in Iowa overall are 12% below the U.S. average (index 87.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
65
Goods (food, clothes…)
94
Utilities
83
Other services
93
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Adel, so the Iowa figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Adel

🏛️ Property tax$4,217a year · 1.29% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$148a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Adel

Commute to work21.8 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree37.9%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home65.2%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line7.2%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment2.7%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Adel?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,251 a month less.

Renting
$1,024
Owning
$2,275

Owning assumes a typical $327,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $32,790 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Adel, IA?

Renting in Adel costs a median of about $1,024 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Iowa median is $1,071.

How much do I need to make to live in Adel?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $40,960 a year, or $20 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Adel cheap or expensive?

Adel is rated Cheap: rent takes 12.0% of the typical household income of $102,727. It ranks 35th cheapest of 86 Iowa cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Adel?

The median homeowner in Adel pays $4,217 a year in property taxes, about 1.29% of the median home value.

Is Adel more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Iowa are 12% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Adel?

The median home value in Adel is $327,900, about 3.2 times the typical yearly household income.

6,430 people live in Adel. Numbers are typical (middle) values.