County FMR · HUD FY2026
Hancock County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Hancock County, MS - 4% below the US average.
- $923
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,140
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +3.0%
- YoY change
- -4%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Hancock is the 9th most expensive of 82 counties in Mississippi by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #9
- most expensive of 82 in Mississippi (2BR)
- +18%
- vs the state average
- $36,920
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +3.0%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (12.5%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (50.8%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Hancock County, MS. Verify with HUD →
Hancock County, Mississippi carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $923 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,140/mo and a studio is $786/mo. That's 4% below the national benchmark of $959 and 18% above the Mississippi average of $782.
Rent increased3.0% from FY 2025 ($896), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $36,920/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Mississippi. Population: 46,010. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-1.3%, Census ACS). That's in line with Mississippi's statewide growth of -1.2% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Hancock County
The Hancock County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Mississippi'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 4% below the US average of $959 and 18% higher than the Mississippi state average of $782. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$896 in FY 2025 to $923 in FY 2026 - a change of +3.0%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $923, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $36,920 per year (about $3,077/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,140 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 46,010 and a county median household income of $67,728, 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 | $766 | $786 | +$20 (+2.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $896 | $923 | +$27 (+3.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,117 | $1,140 | +$23 (+2.1%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,446 | $1,471 | +$25 (+1.7%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,540 | $1,612 | +$72 (+4.7%) |
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 Hancock 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.
Hancock County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Hancock sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,140 Top 37% higher than 63% 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 Hancock compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Mississippi counties
- DeSoto
DeSoto County
$1,154 1BR FMR / mo
- Hinds
Hinds County
$1,097 1BR FMR / mo
- Rankin
Rankin County
$1,097 1BR FMR / mo
- Madison
Madison County
$1,097 1BR FMR / mo
- Jackson
Jackson County
$951 1BR FMR / mo
- Hancock
Hancock County
$923 1BR FMR / mo
- Harrison
Harrison County
$923 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Hancock is highlighted. Nearby Mississippi counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: DeSoto County ($1,154), Hinds County ($1,097), Rankin County ($1,097), Madison County ($1,097), Jackson County ($951), Hancock County (this county) ($923), Harrison County ($923).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $923/mo compares to Mississippi salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | MS Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| General & Operations Managers | $88,290 | 12.5% | Affordable |
| Software Developers | $86,460 | 12.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $74,470 | 14.9% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $64,170 | 17.3% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $57,300 | 19.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,700 | 21.8% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $48,440 | 22.9% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $45,610 | 24.3% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $39,120 | 28.3% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $38,210 | 29% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $35,580 | 31.1% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $27,810 | 39.8% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $27,610 | 40.1% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $22,280 | 49.7% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $21,790 | 50.8% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Hancock County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Hancock (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 26.1% overall, from $732 to $923. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +18.3% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑3.0% | $786 | $923 | $1,140 |
| FY 2025 ↓2.9% | $766 | $896 | $1,117 |
| FY 2024 ↑18.3% | $825 | $923 | $1,151 |
| FY 2023 ↑6.1% | $707 | $780 | $944 |
| FY 2022 ↑4.9% | $666 | $735 | $863 |
| FY 2021 ↓4.2% | $644 | $701 | $810 |
| FY 2020 | $688 | $732 | $846 |
Part of the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS Metro Area
Hancock County is a central county of the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metropolitan statistical area, alongside 3 other metro-area counties.
Hancock County ranks #3 of 4 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Jackson County ($951), Harrison County ($923), Hancock County (this county) ($923), Stone County ($739).
Nearby Counties in Mississippi
Largest counties by population in Mississippi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Hancock County? ▼
How does Hancock County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Hancock County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Hancock County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Hancock County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Hancock County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Hancock County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Hancock County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Hancock'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 $923 implies about $36,920/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 Hancock 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.