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

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

37.2% (±6.3 points) of renting households in Mason City, IA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

31.3% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 24.8% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 37.2% (±6.3 points)
Paying 35% or more: 31.3% (±5.9 points)
Median share of income: 24.8% (±2.4 points)

Rent as a share of income in Mason City

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Mason City	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	United States
Less than 15%	21.0% (±5.7 points)	21.8%	17.1%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	18.1% (±5.3 points)	17.8%	14.6%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	11.3% (±4.7 points)	13.6%	12.8%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	12.5% (±4.3 points)	12.2%	11.6%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	5.9% (±2.3 points)	6.1%	8.7%	9.2%
35% or more	31.3% (±5.9 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.

Mason City against Cerro Gordo County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Mason City	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	United States
Paying 30% or more	37.2% (±6.3 points)	34.6% (±4.8 points)	43.9% (±0.8 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	31.3% (±5.9 points)	28.5% (±4.4 points)	35.2% (±0.6 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	24.8% (±2.4 points)	23.8% (±1.7 points)	27.4% (±0.3 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$41,031 (±$5,449)	$42,350 (±$4,641)	$43,297 (±$758)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$882 (±$54)	$850 (±$42)	$972 (±$6)	$1,413

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

It is also lower than in Iowa (43.9%).

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

In Cerro Gordo County, Mason City ranks 1 of 9 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 414 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 Mason City

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Mason City
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Mason City	—	37.2% (±6.3 points)	—
Rock Falls	7.0 mi	0.0% (±141.4 points)	Not measurably different
Plymouth	7.8 mi	0.0% (±63.1 points)	Not measurably different
Clear Lake	8.8 mi	32.4% (±12.5 points)	Not measurably different
Nora Springs	9.7 mi	37.5% (±28.4 points)	Not measurably different
Manly	9.7 mi	15.8% (±13.3 points)	Lower
Rockwell	12 mi	18.6% (±31.7 points)	Not measurably different
Hanlontown	13 mi	15.4% (±77.9 points)	Not measurably different
Swaledale	13 mi	0.0% (±98.3 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Manly, IA (15.8%).

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)

Showing 7 of 9 places in Cerro Gordo County, ranked from highest to lowest.

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

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

What you can do on Seayora in Mason City

One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.

Looking for a place to rent?

Browse homes for rent near Mason City, save the ones you like and apply online.

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Own or manage a rental?

List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Mason City beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?

Get found by owners and renters near Mason City, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.

Join as a pro · Find a pro

Questions about Mason City

Are renters in Mason City rent-burdened?

37.2% of renting households in Mason City 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 Mason City spend on rent?

The median renting household in Mason City, IA spends 24.8% (±2.4 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 Mason City city, Iowa (place:50160, 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.