County FMR · HUD FY2026
Lamar County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Lamar County, MS - 7% below the US average.
- $888
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,047
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -6.7%
- YoY change
- -7%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Lamar is the 14th most expensive of 82 counties in Mississippi by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,478 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has fallen 6.7% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #1,478
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #14
- most expensive of 82 in Mississippi (2BR)
- +14%
- vs the state average
- $35,520
- income to afford it (30% rule)
General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (12.1%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (48.9%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Lamar County, MS. Verify with HUD →
Lamar County, Mississippi carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $888 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,047/mo and a studio is $766/mo. That's 7% below the national benchmark of $959 and 14% above the Mississippi average of $782.
Rent decreased6.7% from FY 2025 ($952), declining against the trend. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $35,520/year for a 1-bedroom.
Observed renter burden: 41.2% of the 7,985 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 6.8%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.2% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Mississippi. Population: 64,425. Population grew 6.3% 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 Mississippi's statewide growth of -1.2% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area LAMAR·COUNTY·MS·MS
Lamar County, MS: $888/mo 1BR · #1478 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA MS
- 1BR-FMR $888
- 2BR-FMR $1,047
- RANK-MID #1,478
- YOY-DOWN -6.7%
- VSUS-NEAR -7%
- VS-ST-HIGH +14% MS
- INC-ROOM 15%
- POP-MID 64K
- PHOTO-NEAR Hinds County
- VOUCH-90-110 $799–$977
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Hinds ($209 1BR gap)
Read with: How Fair Market Rent works
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $851 | $766 | $-85 (-10.0%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $952 | $888 | $-64 (-6.7%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,143 | $1,047 | $-96 (-8.4%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,456 | $1,348 | $-108 (-7.4%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,515 | $1,386 | $-129 (-8.5%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Lamar 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 Lamar sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,047 higher than 53% 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 Lamar 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
- Harrison
Harrison County
$923 1BR FMR / mo
- Lamar
Lamar County
$888 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Lamar 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), Harrison County ($923), Lamar County (this county) ($888).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $888/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 | 12.1% | Affordable |
| Software Developers | $86,460 | 12.3% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $74,470 | 14.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $64,170 | 16.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $57,300 | 18.6% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,700 | 21% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $48,440 | 22% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $45,610 | 23.4% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $39,120 | 27.2% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $38,210 | 27.9% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $35,580 | 29.9% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $27,810 | 38.3% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $27,610 | 38.6% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $22,280 | 47.8% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $21,790 | 48.9% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Lamar County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Lamar (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 30.6% overall, from $680 to $888. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.4% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓6.7% | $766 | $888 | $1,047 |
| FY 2025 ↑5.1% | $851 | $952 | $1,143 |
| FY 2024 ↑15.4% | $766 | $906 | $1,101 |
| FY 2023 ↑8.6% | $660 | $785 | $949 |
| FY 2022 ↑1.0% | $577 | $723 | $868 |
| FY 2021 ↑5.3% | $564 | $716 | $855 |
| FY 2020 | $538 | $680 | $825 |
Part of the Hattiesburg, MS Metro Area
Lamar County is a central county of the Hattiesburg, MS metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Lamar County ranks #3 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Forrest County ($888), Perry County ($888), Lamar County (this county) ($888).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Lamar County, both outside Mississippi so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.
Similar 2-bedroom FMR
Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside MS (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MS).
Nearby Counties in Mississippi
Largest counties by population in Mississippi
Showing the 8 largest of 81 other counties in Mississippi.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Lamar County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Lamar County is $888 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,047 and a studio is $766.
How does Lamar County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Lamar County is 7% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $888 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Lamar County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Lamar County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,047 ranks #1,478 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Lamar County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $35,520 ($2,960/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Lamar County.
Is rent going up or down in Lamar County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lamar County decreased by 6.7% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $952 to $888.
Which jobs can afford rent in Lamar County?
Based on Mississippi BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like General and Operations Managers, Software Developers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $888/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Lamar County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lamar County went from $680 in FY 2020 to $888 in FY 2026, a total change of +30.6% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Lamar County?
In Lamar County, the FY 2026 FMR of $888/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Lamar County?
For Lamar County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($888/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Lamar County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 6.8%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in Lamar County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.2% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Lamar's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $888 implies about $35,520/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Mississippi counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Hinds
- See where Lamar ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.