States › Iowa › Polk City

Is Polk City, IA expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 6 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$86551% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$177,294about $14,775/month · 104% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$414,80025% higher than U.S. average

Rent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. That makes it a rare mix of above-average pay and below-average rent. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Most homes (89.1%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $34,600 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 14 of 86 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Polk City
$865
Maquoketa
$879
Asbury
$1,683
Independence
$907
Estherville
$834
Oelwein
$937
Tiffin
$1,524

How much do households earn in Polk City?

Under $25k
9.8%
$25k–50k
13.4%
$50k–100k
15.8%
$100k–150k
26.6%
$150k+
32.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 59.2% of households earn $100,000 or more.

How expensive is Polk City 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 Polk City, so the Iowa figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Polk City

🏛️ Property tax$6,696a year · 1.61% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$148a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Polk City

Commute to work24.3 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree44.2%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home89.1%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line6.7%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment3.2%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Polk City?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,013 a month less.

Renting
$865
Owning
$2,878

Owning assumes a typical $414,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $41,480 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Polk City, IA?

Renting in Polk City costs a median of about $865 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Iowa median is $1,071.

How much do I need to make to live in Polk City?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $34,600 a year, or $17 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Polk City cheap or expensive?

Polk City is rated Cheap: rent takes 5.9% of the typical household income of $177,294. It ranks 14th cheapest of 86 Iowa cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Polk City?

The median homeowner in Polk City pays $6,696 a year in property taxes, about 1.61% of the median home value.

Is Polk City 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 Polk City?

The median home value in Polk City is $414,800, about 2.3 times the typical yearly household income.

6,037 people live in Polk City. Numbers are typical (middle) values.