Clinton, Iowa Rental Market Report
If you own — or are thinking about buying — rental property in Clinton, Iowa, the national headlines tell you almost nothing. Clinton is a small, steady, deeply local market. This report pulls together the public numbers (U.S. Census, HUD, major listing platforms) with what we see operating 100+ rental units here, and we update it as the data moves.
Clinton at a glance
- Population: ~24,000 (Census, 2025 est.)
- Households: ~10,750
- Owner-occupied rate: 69% — roughly 3 in 10 households rent
- Median household income: ~$60,200
- Median home value: ~$118,000
- Median gross rent: $791/mo (Census ACS 2020–2024)
What rents are running
Listing-platform averages for Clinton as of September 2026 (Apartments.com market data): studio ≈ $538 · 1-bedroom ≈ $783 · 2-bedroom ≈ $1,084 · 3-bedroom ≈ $1,337, with overall rents down about 2.4% year-over-year — and roughly half the national average rent. HUD’s Fair Market Rents for Clinton County (FY 2025) tell a similar story: 1BR $723, 2BR $948, 3BR $1,158. Take any single-source number with salt: in a market this size, a handful of listings can swing an average, and advertised rents are not achieved rents.
What the numbers mean for owners
Clinton’s math is a cash-flow story, not an appreciation story. A median home value near $118,000 against typical rents of $800–$1,100 produces rent-to-price ratios that bigger metros can’t touch — which is exactly why out-of-state buyers keep showing up (see our out-of-state landlord services). The flip side: older housing stock, a mandatory rental licensing and inspection program, and a tenant pool that rewards careful screening. Operators win here; passive owners leak.
Camanche & DeWitt
Camanche and DeWitt run tighter than Clinton proper — smaller rental inventories, lower turnover, and rents that hold at or above Clinton levels for comparable units, with DeWitt’s newer stock commanding a premium. Inventory is scarce enough that well-kept units in both towns rarely sit. We manage in both: Camanche · DeWitt.
Want the number for YOUR property?
Averages don’t price your unit — condition, block, and unit mix do. We’ll tell you what your property should actually rent for, free, based on live local comparables: get a free rental analysis.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts / ACS 2020–2024; HUD Fair Market Rents FY2025 (Clinton County, IA); Apartments.com rent-market trends, September 2026. Figures rounded; market data changes — this page is updated periodically.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Clinton, Iowa?
Census data puts Clinton’s median gross rent at $791/month (ACS 2020–2024). Current listing averages run from roughly $540 for studios to about $1,340 for three-bedrooms, and HUD’s FY2025 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Clinton County is $948.
Are Clinton rents going up or down?
Listing data shows Clinton rents down about 2.4% year-over-year as of September 2026 — essentially flat in dollar terms. Clinton is a stable market: rents move slowly in both directions.
Is Clinton, Iowa a good place to buy rental property?
It’s a cash-flow market: median home values near $118,000 against rents of $800–$1,100 create strong rent-to-price ratios. Success depends on operations — screening, maintenance and code compliance matter more here than market timing. We’re happy to give an honest read on any specific property.
How accurate are online rent estimates for Clinton?
Treat them cautiously. In a market this size, automated tools like national rent estimators often run high because a few outlier listings skew the average. A local comparable-based analysis — which we provide free — is far more reliable for pricing a specific unit.
