County FMR · HUD FY2026

Leflore County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Leflore County, MS - 33% below the US average.

$642
1-bedroom FMR
$842
2-bedroom FMR
-9.7%
YoY change
-33%
vs US avg

The verdict

Leflore is the 23rd cheapest of 82 counties in Mississippi by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has fallen 9.7% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#23
cheapest of 82 in Mississippi (2BR)
-18%
vs the state average
$25,680
income to afford it (30% rule)
-9.7%
YoY, FY2025→2026

General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.7%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (35.4%); 13 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.

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

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Leflore County, Mississippi at $642 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $842/mo and a studio is $638/mo. This is 33% lower than the national average of $959 and 18% below the Mississippi average of $782.

Rent decreased9.7% from FY 2025 ($711), declining against the trend. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $25,680/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Mississippi. Population: 27,920. Population declined 8.0% 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 Mississippi's statewide growth of -1.2% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Leflore County

The Leflore 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.

Leflore County's 1-bedroom rent runs 33% below the US average of $959 and 18% lower than the Mississippi state average of $782. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$711 in FY 2025 to $642 in FY 2026 - a change of -9.7%, which is unusual and suggests softening demand or revised HUD sampling.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $642, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $25,680 per year (about $2,140/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $842 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 27,920 and a county median household income of $33,188, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $751 · US avg: $893
$638/mo
↓ 9.8% YoY -15% vs state -29% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $782 · US avg: $959
$642/mo
↓ 9.7% YoY -18% vs state -33% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $924 · US avg: $1,175
$842/mo
↓ 9.8% YoY -9% vs state -28% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,177 · US avg: $1,525
$1,055/mo
↓ 9.6% YoY -10% vs state -31% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,295 · US avg: $1,756
$1,115/mo
↓ 9.9% YoY -14% vs state -37% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $707
$638
$-69 (-9.8%)
1 Bedroom $711
$642
$-69 (-9.7%)
2 Bedroom $933
$842
$-91 (-9.8%)
3 Bedroom $1,167
$1,055
$-112 (-9.6%)
4 Bedroom $1,237
$1,115
$-122 (-9.9%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$25,680
$2,140/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$33,680
$2,807/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
23.1%
Affordable
Need $25,520/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
23.2%
Affordable
Need $25,680/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
30.4%
Burdened
Need $33,680/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
38.1%
Burdened
Need $42,200/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
40.3%
Burdened
Need $44,600/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.

Leflore County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%30.4%
Leflore County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $33,188 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Mississippi rent burden →

Where Leflore sits among every US county

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

$842 higher than 1% 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 Leflore compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Mississippi counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Leflore 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), Leflore County (this county) ($642).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $642/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 8.7% Affordable
Software Developers $86,460 8.9% Affordable
Registered Nurses $74,470 10.3% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $64,170 12% Affordable
Electricians $57,300 13.4% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,700 15.2% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $48,440 15.9% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $45,610 16.9% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $39,120 19.7% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $38,210 20.2% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $35,580 21.7% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $27,810 27.7% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $27,610 27.9% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $22,280 34.6% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $21,790 35.4% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Mississippi) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Leflore (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 25.9% overall, from $510 to $642. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 18.0% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$450$500$550$600$650$700$750 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $642
Leflore County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓9.7% $638 $642 $842
FY 2025 ↑3.5% $707 $711 $933
FY 2024 ↑18.0% $683 $687 $903
FY 2023 ↑8.6% $578 $582 $766
FY 2022 ↓0.6% $471 $536 $705
FY 2021 ↑5.7% $457 $539 $684
FY 2020 $441 $510 $657
Total change (6yr): +25.9%
Annualized: +3.9%/yr
1 BR: $510 → $642

Part of the Greenwood, MS Micro Area

Leflore County is a central county of the Greenwood, MS micropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other micro-area county.

Leflore County ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Carroll County ($713), Leflore County (this county) ($642).

Carroll County
1 BR: $713/mo
Leflore County (this county)
1 BR: $642/mo

Nearby Counties in Mississippi

Largest counties by population in Mississippi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Leflore County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Leflore County is $642 per month. A 2-bedroom is $842 and a studio is $638.
How does Leflore County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Leflore County is 33% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $642 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Leflore County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $25,680 ($2,140/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Leflore County.
Is rent going up or down in Leflore County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Leflore County decreased by 9.7% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $711 to $642.
Which jobs can afford rent in Leflore 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 $642/mo. 13 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Leflore County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Leflore County went from $510 in FY 2020 to $642 in FY 2026, a total change of +25.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Leflore County?
In Leflore County, the FY 2026 FMR of $642/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 Leflore County?
For Leflore County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($642/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Leflore'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 $642 implies about $25,680/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 Leflore 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.