County FMR · HUD FY2026

Lee County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Lee County, MS - 11% below the US average.

$852
1-bedroom FMR
$994
2-bedroom FMR
-8.2%
YoY change
-11%
vs US avg

The verdict

Lee is the 16th most expensive of 82 counties in Mississippi by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,416 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has fallen 8.2% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#1,416
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#16
most expensive of 82 in Mississippi (2BR)
+9%
vs the state average
$34,080
income to afford it (30% rule)

General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.6%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (46.9%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Lee County, MS. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Lee County, Mississippi at $852 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $994/mo and a studio is $847/mo. This is 11% lower than the national average of $959 and 9% above the Mississippi average of $782.

Rent decreased8.2% from FY 2025 ($928), declining against the trend. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $34,080/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 43.4% of the 9,476 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.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Mississippi. Population: 83,343. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.1%, Census ACS). That's in line with Mississippi's statewide growth of -1.2% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area LEE·COUNTY·MS·MS

Lee County, MS: $852/mo 1BR · #1416 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA MS
  • 1BR-FMR $852
  • 2BR-FMR $994
  • RANK-MID #1,416
  • YOY-DOWN -8.2%
  • VSUS-BELOW -11%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +9% MS
  • INC-ROOM 15%
  • POP-MID 83K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Hinds County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $767–$937
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Hinds ($245 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $751 · US avg: $893
$847/mo
↓ 8.1% YoY +13% vs state -5% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $782 · US avg: $959
$852/mo
↓ 8.2% YoY +9% vs state -11% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $924 · US avg: $1,175
$994/mo
↓ 9.4% YoY +8% vs state -15% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,177 · US avg: $1,525
$1,257/mo
↓ 9.0% YoY +7% vs state -18% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,295 · US avg: $1,756
$1,316/mo
↓ 9.5% YoY +2% vs state -25% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $922
$847
$-75 (-8.1%)
1 Bedroom $928
$852
$-76 (-8.2%)
2 Bedroom $1,097
$994
$-103 (-9.4%)
3 Bedroom $1,382
$1,257
$-125 (-9.0%)
4 Bedroom $1,454
$1,316
$-138 (-9.5%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Lee County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
15.1%
Affordable
Need $33,880/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
15.2%
Affordable
Need $34,080/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
17.8%
Affordable
Need $39,760/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
22.5%
Affordable
Need $50,280/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
23.5%
Affordable
Need $52,640/yr for 30% rule
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.

0%100%National avg22%17.8%
Lee County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $67,144 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Mississippi rent burden →

Where Lee sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$994 higher than 45% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Above this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

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 Lee compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Mississippi counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Lee 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), Lee County (this county) ($852).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $852/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 11.6% Affordable
Software Developers $86,460 11.8% Affordable
Registered Nurses $74,470 13.7% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $64,170 15.9% Affordable
Electricians $57,300 17.8% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,700 20.2% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $48,440 21.1% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $45,610 22.4% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $39,120 26.1% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $38,210 26.8% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $35,580 28.7% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $27,810 36.8% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $27,610 37% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $22,280 45.9% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $21,790 46.9% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Mississippi) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Lee County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Lee (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 50.5% overall, from $566 to $852. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 18.2% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$500$600$700$800$900$1,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $852
Lee County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓8.2% $847 $852 $994
FY 2025 ↑8.0% $922 $928 $1,097
FY 2024 ↑18.2% $853 $859 $1,045
FY 2023 ↑14.7% $722 $727 $891
FY 2022 ↑3.6% $630 $634 $809
FY 2021 ↑8.1% $608 $612 $788
FY 2020 $562 $566 $740
Total change (6yr): +50.5%
Annualized: +7.1%/yr
1 BR: $566 → $852

Part of the Tupelo, MS Micro Area

Lee County is a central county of the Tupelo, MS micropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other micro-area counties.

Lee County ranks #1 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Lee County (this county) ($852), Itawamba County ($753), Prentiss County ($642).

Lee County (this county)
1 BR: $852/mo
Itawamba County
1 BR: $753/mo
Prentiss County
1 BR: $642/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Lee 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).

Rapides Parish
LA · 2 BR $994/mo
Pontotoc County
OK · 2 BR $994/mo
Newberry County
SC · 2 BR $994/mo
Grant Parish
LA · 2 BR $994/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MS).

Oakland County
MI · 17.8% of income · 2 BR $1,411/mo
Culpeper County
VA · 17.8% of income · 2 BR $1,423/mo
Kimble County
TX · 17.8% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Clinton County
IL · 17.8% of income · 2 BR $1,218/mo

Nearby Counties in Mississippi

Largest counties by population in Mississippi

Showing the 8 largest of 81 other counties in Mississippi.

Hinds County
1 BR: $1,097/mo Pop: 226,541
Harrison County
1 BR: $923/mo Pop: 208,748
DeSoto County
1 BR: $1,154/mo Pop: 186,214
Rankin County
1 BR: $1,097/mo Pop: 157,185
Jackson County
1 BR: $951/mo Pop: 143,721
Madison County
1 BR: $1,097/mo Pop: 109,257
Forrest County
1 BR: $888/mo Pop: 77,917
Lauderdale County
1 BR: $812/mo Pop: 72,741
View all counties in Mississippi →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Lee County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Lee County is $852 per month. A 2-bedroom is $994 and a studio is $847.
How does Lee County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Lee County is 11% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $852 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Lee County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Lee County's 2-bedroom FMR of $994 ranks #1,416 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Lee County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $34,080 ($2,840/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Lee County.
Is rent going up or down in Lee County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lee County decreased by 8.2% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $928 to $852.
Which jobs can afford rent in Lee 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 $852/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Lee County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lee County went from $566 in FY 2020 to $852 in FY 2026, a total change of +50.5% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Lee County? ▼
In Lee County, the FY 2026 FMR of $852/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 Lee County? ▼
For Lee County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($852/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

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.