salaryRent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Commutes are short, about 17.2 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $34,960 a year. That is $17 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 16 of 86 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Marshalltown?
Share of households by yearly income. 16.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Marshalltown
| Size | Marshalltown | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $717 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,001 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,422 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,022 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Marshalltown overall?
Everyday prices in Iowa overall are 12% below the U.S. average (index 87.8, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Marshalltown, so the Iowa figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Marshalltown
Life in Marshalltown
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Marshalltown?
About the same. Renting and owning cost within $12 of each other each month.
Owning assumes a typical $127,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $12,770 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Marshalltown, IA?
Renting in Marshalltown costs a median of about $874 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Iowa median is $1,071.
How much do I need to make to live in Marshalltown?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $34,960 a year, or $17 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Marshalltown cheap or expensive?
Marshalltown is rated Cheap: rent takes 14.1% of the typical household income of $74,490. It ranks 16th cheapest of 86 Iowa cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Marshalltown?
The median homeowner in Marshalltown pays $2,157 a year in property taxes, about 1.69% of the median home value.
Is Marshalltown 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 Marshalltown?
The median home value in Marshalltown is $127,700, about 1.7 times the typical yearly household income.
27,626 people live in Marshalltown. Numbers are typical (middle) values.