States › Iowa › Indianola

Is Indianola, IA expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 26 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,7781% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$81,376about $6,781/month · 7% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$237,50029% lower than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 56% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $71,120 a year. That is $34 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Iowa cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Iowa. It is number 85 of 86 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Indianola
$1,778
Grimes
$1,664
Newton
$902
Norwalk
$927
Clive
$1,187
Boone
$854
North Liberty
$1,367

How much do households earn in Indianola?

Under $25k
10.8%
$25k–50k
25.2%
$50k–100k
36.2%
$100k–150k
17.0%
$150k+
6.9%

Share of households by yearly income. 23.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Indianola

SizeIndianolaU.S. average
Studio$843$1,338
1 bedroom$675$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,086$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,618$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,016$2,098

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

How expensive is Indianola 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 Indianola, so the Iowa figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Indianola

🏛️ Property tax$3,685a year · 1.55% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$138a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Indianola

Commute to work21.8 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree35%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home69.9%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line6.4%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Indianola?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $130 a month less than renting.

Renting
$1,778
Owning
$1,648

Owning assumes a typical $237,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $23,750 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Indianola, IA?

Renting in Indianola costs a median of about $1,778 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Iowa median is $1,071.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $71,120 a year, or $34 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Indianola cheap or expensive?

Indianola is rated OK: rent takes 26.2% of the typical household income of $81,376. It ranks 85th cheapest of 86 Iowa cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Indianola?

The median homeowner in Indianola pays $3,685 a year in property taxes, about 1.55% of the median home value.

Is Indianola 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 Indianola?

The median home value in Indianola is $237,500, about 2.9 times the typical yearly household income.

16,044 people live in Indianola. Numbers are typical (middle) values.