County FMR · HUD FY2026
Benton County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Benton County, AR - 16% above the US average.
- $1,115
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,347
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +20.5%
- YoY change
- +16%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Benton is the 3rd most expensive of 75 counties in Arkansas by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 20.5% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #3
- most expensive of 75 in Arkansas (2BR)
- +48%
- vs the state average
- $44,600
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +20.5%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (50%); 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 Benton County, AR. Verify with HUD →
Benton County, Arkansas carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,115 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,347/mo and a studio is $1,007/mo. That's 16% above the national benchmark of $959 and 48% above the Arkansas average of $751.
Rent increased20.5% from FY 2025 ($925), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $44,600/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Arkansas. Population: 286,528. Population grew 13.7% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Arkansas's statewide growth of +1.4% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Benton County
The Benton 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 16% above the US average of $959 and 48% higher than the Arkansas state average of $751. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$925 in FY 2025 to $1,115 in FY 2026 - a change of +20.5%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,115, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $44,600 per year (about $3,717/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,347 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 286,528 and a county median household income of $89,879, 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 | $853 | $1,007 | +$154 (+18.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $925 | $1,115 | +$190 (+20.5%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,111 | $1,347 | +$236 (+21.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,557 | $1,873 | +$316 (+20.3%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,798 | $2,213 | +$415 (+23.1%) |
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 Benton 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.
Benton County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Benton sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,347 Top 21% higher than 79% 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 Benton 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
- Craighead
Craighead County
$870 1BR FMR / mo
- Sebastian
Sebastian County
$714 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Benton is highlighted. Nearby Arkansas counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Benton County (this county) ($1,115), Washington County ($1,115), Pulaski County ($989), Faulkner County ($989), Saline County ($989), Craighead County ($870), Sebastian County ($714).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,115/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 | 13.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $77,130 | 17.3% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $64,260 | 20.8% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $64,180 | 20.8% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $50,550 | 26.5% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $49,520 | 27% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $49,420 | 27.1% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $48,090 | 27.8% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $46,940 | 28.5% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,490 | 35.7% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,380 | 35.8% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $29,540 | 45.3% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,420 | 45.5% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,270 | 45.7% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $26,740 | 50% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Benton County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Benton (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 77.0% overall, from $630 to $1,115. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 20.9% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑20.5% | $1,007 | $1,115 | $1,347 |
| FY 2025 ↑0.1% | $853 | $925 | $1,111 |
| FY 2024 ↑20.9% | $871 | $924 | $1,121 |
| FY 2023 ↑9.9% | $720 | $764 | $930 |
| FY 2022 ↑12.5% | $658 | $695 | $865 |
| FY 2021 ↓1.9% | $579 | $618 | $780 |
| FY 2020 | $584 | $630 | $807 |
Part of the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR Metro Area
Benton County is a central county of the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Benton County ranks #3 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Washington County ($1,115), Madison County ($1,115), Benton County (this county) ($1,115).
Nearby Counties in Arkansas
Largest counties by population in Arkansas
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Benton County? ▼
How does Benton County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Benton County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Benton County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Benton County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Benton County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Benton County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Benton County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Benton'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 $1,115 implies about $44,600/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 Benton 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.