How many renters in Clear Lake, IA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Clear Lake, IA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

32.4% (±12.5 points) of renting households in Clear Lake, IA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

23.3% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 23.8% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 32.4% (±12.5 points)
Paying 35% or more: 23.3% (±10.6 points)
Median share of income: 23.8% (±4.0 points)

Rent as a share of income in Clear Lake

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Clear Lake	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	United States
Less than 15%	22.6% (±9.9 points)	21.8%	17.1%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	16.2% (±8.6 points)	17.8%	14.6%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	14.9% (±8.9 points)	13.6%	12.8%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	14.0% (±10.5 points)	12.2%	11.6%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	9.1% (±6.6 points)	6.1%	8.7%	9.2%
35% or more	23.3% (±10.6 points)	28.5%	35.2%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Clear Lake against Cerro Gordo County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Clear Lake	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	United States
Paying 30% or more	32.4% (±12.5 points)	34.6% (±4.8 points)	43.9% (±0.8 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	23.3% (±10.6 points)	28.5% (±4.4 points)	35.2% (±0.6 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	23.8% (±4.0 points)	23.8% (±1.7 points)	27.4% (±0.3 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$43,245 (±$9,235)	$42,350 (±$4,641)	$43,297 (±$758)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$808 (±$74)	$850 (±$42)	$972 (±$6)	$1,413

In Clear Lake, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Cerro Gordo County (34.6%).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (43.9%).

It is lower than the national figure (51.1%).

In Cerro Gordo County, Clear Lake ranks 3 of 9 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 495 of 895.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Clear Lake

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Clear Lake
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Clear Lake	—	32.4% (±12.5 points)	—
Ventura	4.7 mi	29.6% (±42.2 points)	Not measurably different
Mason City	8.8 mi	37.2% (±6.3 points)	Not measurably different
Fertile	9.1 mi	0.0% (±91.9 points)	Not measurably different
Hanlontown	10 mi	15.4% (±77.9 points)	Not measurably different
Swaledale	11 mi	0.0% (±98.3 points)	Not measurably different
Garner	12 mi	50.0% (±22.9 points)	Not measurably different
Thornton	13 mi	35.5% (±24.2 points)	Not measurably different
Manly	14 mi	15.8% (±13.3 points)	Not measurably different

None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Cerro Gordo County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Mason City	37.2% (±6.3 points)
2	Thornton	35.5% (±24.2 points)
3	Clear Lake	32.4% (±12.5 points)
4	Ventura	29.6% (±42.2 points)
5	Rockwell	18.6% (±31.7 points)
6 (tie)	Meservey	0.0% (±122.6 points)
6 (tie)	Plymouth	0.0% (±63.1 points)
6 (tie)	Rock Falls	0.0% (±141.4 points)
6 (tie)	Swaledale	0.0% (±98.3 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Clear Lake

Are renters in Clear Lake rent-burdened?

32.4% of renting households in Clear Lake pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Clear Lake spend on rent?

The median renting household in Clear Lake, IA spends 23.8% (±4.0 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Clear Lake city, Iowa (place:14025, in state:19).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.