County FMR · HUD FY2026
DeKalb County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for DeKalb County, MO - 13% below the US average.
- $832
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,077
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +5.4%
- YoY change
- -13%
- vs US avg
The verdict
DeKalb is the 21st most expensive of 116 counties in Missouri by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,384 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 5.4% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #1,384
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #21
- most expensive of 116 in Missouri (2BR)
- +7%
- vs the state average
- $33,280
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.7%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (34.4%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for DeKalb County, MO. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for DeKalb County, Missouri at $832 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,077/mo and a studio is $774/mo. This is 13% lower than the national average of $959 and 7% above the Missouri average of $777.
Rent increased5.4% from FY 2025 ($789), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $33,280/year for a 1-bedroom.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Missouri. Population: 11,838. Population declined 11.0% over the past five years (Census ACS), a trend that can ease rental-market pressure over time even as FMR reflects recent rent levels. That's slower than Missouri's statewide growth of +1.3% over the same period.
What these rents mean for DeKalb 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, DeKalb County's 2-bedroom of $1,077 ranks #1,384 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.
DeKalb County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (13% below the US average of $959), while sitting 7% above the Missouri average of $777. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$789 in FY 2025 to $832 in FY 2026, a change of +5.4%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $832, the 30% rule points to $33,280/year (about $2,773/month) versus this county's median household income of $69,093. A 2-bedroom at $1,077 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $710 | $774 | +$64 (+9.0%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $789 | $832 | +$43 (+5.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,035 | $1,077 | +$42 (+4.1%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,315 | $1,363 | +$48 (+3.7%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,472 | $1,566 | +$94 (+6.4%) |
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 DeKalb 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 DeKalb sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,077 higher than 56% 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 DeKalb compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Missouri counties
- Jackson
Jackson County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Clay
Clay County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Louis
St. Louis County
$995 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Charles
St. Charles County
$995 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Louis city
St. Louis city
$995 1BR FMR / mo
- Greene
Greene County
$883 1BR FMR / mo
- DeKalb
DeKalb County
$832 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows DeKalb is highlighted. Nearby Missouri counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Jackson County ($1,197), Clay County ($1,197), St. Louis County ($995), St. Charles County ($995), St. Louis city ($995), Greene County ($883), DeKalb County (this county) ($832).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $832/mo compares to Missouri salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | MO Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $114,550 | 8.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,770 | 12.5% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $77,410 | 12.9% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $73,210 | 13.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $70,950 | 14.1% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,720 | 16.4% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $58,730 | 17% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,540 | 19.8% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $48,250 | 20.7% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $41,850 | 23.9% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,990 | 26.3% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $34,080 | 29.3% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,250 | 31.9% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,310 | 34.1% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,060 | 34.4% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for DeKalb County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for DeKalb (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 36.4% overall, from $610 to $832. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 8.6% (FY 2023).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑5.4% | $774 | $832 | $1,077 |
| FY 2025 ↑7.5% | $710 | $789 | $1,035 |
| FY 2024 ↑7.9% | $653 | $734 | $964 |
| FY 2023 ↑8.6% | $598 | $680 | $895 |
| FY 2022 ↑1.0% | $547 | $626 | $824 |
| FY 2021 ↑1.6% | $539 | $620 | $817 |
| FY 2020 | $555 | $610 | $797 |
Part of the St. Joseph, MO-KS Metro Area
DeKalb County is a outlying county of the St. Joseph, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area, alongside 3 other metro-area counties.
DeKalb County ranks #4 of 4 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Buchanan County ($832), Andrew County ($832), Doniphan County ($832), DeKalb County (this county) ($832).
Nearby Counties in Missouri
Largest counties by population in Missouri
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in DeKalb County? ▼
How does DeKalb County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does DeKalb County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in DeKalb County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in DeKalb County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in DeKalb County? ▼
How much has rent changed in DeKalb County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in DeKalb County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for DeKalb County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat DeKalb'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 $832 implies about $33,280/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 DeKalb 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.