County FMR · HUD FY2026
Benton County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Benton County, IN - 8% above the US average.
- $1,032
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,242
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +6.3%
- YoY change
- +8%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Benton is the 21st most expensive of 92 counties in Indiana by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #912 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 6.3% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #912
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #21
- most expensive of 92 in Indiana (2BR)
- +17%
- vs the state average
- $41,280
- income to afford it (30% rule)
General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (43.8%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Benton County, IN. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Benton County, Indiana at $1,032 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,242/mo and a studio is $894/mo. This is 8% higher than the national average of $959 and 17% above the Indiana average of $882.
Rent increased6.3% from FY 2025 ($971), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $41,280/year for a 1-bedroom.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Indiana. Population: 8,709. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.5%, Census ACS). That's slower than Indiana's statewide growth of +2.6% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Benton County
HUD publishes one FMR schedule per FMR area (often the county). Local housing authorities use it as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard baseline. See how FMR is calculated.
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Benton County's 2-bedroom of $1,242 ranks #912 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.
Benton County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (8% above the US average of $959), while sitting 17% above the Indiana average of $882. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$971 in FY 2025 to $1,032 in FY 2026, a change of +6.3%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,032, the 30% rule points to $41,280/year (about $3,440/month) versus this county's median household income of $61,811. A 2-bedroom at $1,242 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $831 | $894 | +$63 (+7.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $971 | $1,032 | +$61 (+6.3%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,161 | $1,242 | +$81 (+7.0%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,399 | $1,489 | +$90 (+6.4%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,750 | $1,992 | +$242 (+13.8%) |
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.
Where Benton sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,242 Top 29% higher than 71% 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 Indiana counties
- Marion
Marion County
$1,267 1BR FMR / mo
- Hamilton
Hamilton County
$1,267 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Joseph
St. Joseph County
$1,105 1BR FMR / mo
- Lake
Lake County
$1,082 1BR FMR / mo
- Benton
Benton County
$1,032 1BR FMR / mo
- Elkhart
Elkhart County
$992 1BR FMR / mo
- Allen
Allen County
$916 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Benton is highlighted. Nearby Indiana counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Marion County ($1,267), Hamilton County ($1,267), St. Joseph County ($1,105), Lake County ($1,082), Benton County (this county) ($1,032), Elkhart County ($992), Allen County ($916).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,032/mo compares to Indiana salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | IN Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| General & Operations Managers | $108,410 | 11.4% | Affordable |
| Software Developers | $103,570 | 12% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $80,740 | 15.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,410 | 16% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $71,540 | 17.3% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $65,480 | 18.9% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,090 | 20.6% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $58,370 | 21.2% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $50,690 | 24.4% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $41,600 | 29.8% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $40,020 | 30.9% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,240 | 35.1% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,460 | 40.7% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,300 | 40.9% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,290 | 43.8% | 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 43.1% overall, from $721 to $1,032. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.8% (FY 2022).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑6.3% | $894 | $1,032 | $1,242 |
| FY 2025 ↑6.9% | $831 | $971 | $1,161 |
| FY 2024 ↓1.0% | $778 | $908 | $1,069 |
| FY 2023 ↑8.9% | $794 | $917 | $1,071 |
| FY 2022 ↑11.8% | $734 | $842 | $981 |
| FY 2021 ↑4.4% | $653 | $753 | $872 |
| FY 2020 | $620 | $721 | $837 |
Part of the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Metro Area
Benton County is a outlying county of the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metropolitan statistical area, alongside 3 other metro-area counties.
Benton County ranks #2 of 4 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Tippecanoe County ($1,032), Benton County (this county) ($1,032), Warren County ($845), Carroll County ($742).
Nearby Counties in Indiana
Largest counties by population in Indiana
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Benton County? ▼
How does Benton County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Benton County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
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 $1,032 implies about $41,280/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.