Polk County, IA

Across selected ZIP/ZCTA matches, the June 2026 Zillow ZORI—a typical observed asking-rent index—ranges from $908 in 50311 to $1,536 in 50021, a $628 spread; its median is $1,283.50 versus the Polk County index of $1,259. The local choice is therefore not whether a countywide figure fits every search, but which current asking-rent band matches a household’s budget, bedroom need, and available listings. These ZIP-level index readings are not quoted rents for a particular unit. They identify a broad dispersion that warrants comparisons at the unit level rather than assuming the county index represents every address. It is a starting screen, not a complete menu of units, rents, or lease terms.

These evidence systems serve different purposes and should not be collapsed into a common rent level. Zillow ZORI reports a current typical observed asking-rent index; the ACS 2024 five-year ZCTA median gross rent is a survey estimate. In the selected set, ACS values run from $1,001 in 50315 to $1,393 in 50021, against the county’s ACS median gross rent of $1,149. HUD’s FY2026 two-bedroom FMR is instead a bedroom-specific administrative standard, not asking rent, ranging from $1,150 to $1,680 here. For directional comparison only, the Zillow-to-HUD ratio extends from 79.0% to 110.4%; it does not establish a lease price, a subsidy outcome, or an affordability finding. These sources answer separate questions about market observation, survey conditions, and program administration.

ACS burden and vacancy add a separate trade-off screen. The share of renter households paying 30% or more of income toward rent spans 37.2% to 48.2% in the selected ZCTAs, versus 46.2% countywide. This spread means a lower Zillow index should not be treated as proof that households face lower measured burden, especially because the series differ in timing and construction. ACS vacancy ranges from 3.4% in 50009 to 11.3% in 50309, while the county rate is 6.0%. A higher vacancy rate can be reviewed alongside listings, but it neither guarantees current availability nor demonstrates landlord concessions; actual listings and lease terms determine those details.

Coverage and mapping limit how broadly these comparisons travel. The selected direct-evidence ZIP list covers 48,328 renter households but remains a nonexhaustive county inventory. Census ZCTAs are statistical areas, not USPS delivery ZIPs. Because ZIPs can cross county lines, display assignment follows the county with the largest HUD residential-address share, which does not validate any individual address. Before acting, verify the exact address’s county, unit bedroom count, advertised rent, included charges, lease term, income rules, listing status, and whether the relevant HUD program uses the applicable FMR or a different standard.