County FMR · HUD FY2026
Baxter County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Baxter County, AR - 23% below the US average.
- $735
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $964
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +3.5%
- YoY change
- -23%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Baxter is the 15th most expensive of 75 counties in Arkansas by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #15
- most expensive of 75 in Arkansas (2BR)
- -2%
- vs the state average
- $29,400
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +3.5%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (33%); 13 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Arkansas counties range as much as 56% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Baxter County, AR. Verify with HUD →
Baxter County, Arkansas carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $735 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $964/mo and a studio is $730/mo. That's 23% below the national benchmark of $959 and 2% below the Arkansas average of $751.
Rent increased3.5% from FY 2025 ($710), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $29,400/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Arkansas. Population: 41,801. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.3%, Census ACS). That's in line with Arkansas's statewide growth of +1.4% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Baxter County
The Baxter County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Arkansas's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 23% below the US average of $959 and 2% lower than the Arkansas state average of $751. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$710 in FY 2025 to $735 in FY 2026 - a change of +3.5%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $735, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $29,400 per year (about $2,450/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $964 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 41,801 and a county median household income of $48,427, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $706 | $730 | +$24 (+3.4%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $710 | $735 | +$25 (+3.5%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $932 | $964 | +$32 (+3.4%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,207 | $1,274 | +$67 (+5.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,236 | $1,276 | +$40 (+3.2%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Baxter County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Baxter County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Baxter sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$964 higher than 31% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Baxter compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Arkansas counties
- Benton
Benton County
$1,115 1BR FMR / mo
- Washington
Washington County
$1,115 1BR FMR / mo
- Pulaski
Pulaski County
$989 1BR FMR / mo
- Faulkner
Faulkner County
$989 1BR FMR / mo
- Saline
Saline County
$989 1BR FMR / mo
- Baxter
Baxter County
$735 1BR FMR / mo
- Sebastian
Sebastian County
$714 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Baxter is highlighted. Nearby Arkansas counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Benton County ($1,115), Washington County ($1,115), Pulaski County ($989), Faulkner County ($989), Saline County ($989), Baxter County (this county) ($735), Sebastian County ($714).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $735/mo compares to Arkansas salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | AR Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $96,820 | 9.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $77,130 | 11.4% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $64,260 | 13.7% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $64,180 | 13.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $50,550 | 17.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $49,420 | 17.8% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $49,520 | 17.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $48,090 | 18.3% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $46,940 | 18.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,490 | 23.5% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,380 | 23.6% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $29,540 | 29.9% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,420 | 30% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,270 | 30.1% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $26,740 | 33% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Baxter County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Baxter (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 38.4% overall, from $531 to $735. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.4% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑3.5% | $730 | $735 | $964 |
| FY 2025 ↑4.7% | $706 | $710 | $932 |
| FY 2024 ↑12.4% | $674 | $678 | $891 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.2% | $599 | $603 | $794 |
| FY 2022 ↓2.7% | $525 | $547 | $709 |
| FY 2021 ↑5.8% | $505 | $562 | $721 |
| FY 2020 | $478 | $531 | $699 |
Part of the Mountain Home, AR Micro Area
Baxter County is a central county of the Mountain Home, AR micropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Arkansas
Largest counties by population in Arkansas
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Baxter County? ▼
How does Baxter County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Baxter County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Baxter County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Baxter County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Baxter County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Baxter County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Baxter County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Baxter's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $735 implies about $29,400/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Baxter can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.