Fair Market Rents: Polk County, IA (FY2026)
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for Polk County set the ceiling for what Housing Choice Vouchers pay locally. FMR equals the estimated 40th-percentile gross rent — shelter plus utilities — for modest, non-luxury units.
| Unit size | FY2026 FMR | IA median* |
|---|---|---|
| Studio (0-BR) | $1,063/mo | $682 (+56%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,109/mo | $745 (+49%) |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,318/mo | $919 (+43%) |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,794/mo | $1,222 (+47%) |
| 4+ Bedrooms | $1,841/mo | $1,356 (+36%) |
*Median across all FMR-publishing counties in IA. Source: HUD FY2026 FMR schedule.
Using FMR as a voucher holder in Polk County
- Your housing authority sets payment standards per bedroom, typically 90–110% of these figures. How payment standards work →
- You may rent above the standard by paying the difference, subject to a 40%-of-income cap at lease-up.
- In high-cost pockets, ask about exception standards or Small Area FMRs by ZIP code.
Subsidized housing in Polk County
We track 142 assisted properties countywide:
| City | Properties | Assisted units |
|---|---|---|
| Altoona | 7 | 456 |
| Ankeny | 11 | 656 |
| Des Moines | 144 | 7,312 |
| Grimes | 7 | 318 |
| Johnston | 7 | 481 |
| Pleasant Hill | 6 | 303 |
| West Des Moines | 15 | 1,943 |