County FMR · HUD FY2026

McDonough County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for McDonough County, IL - 24% below the US average.

$728
1-bedroom FMR
$951
2-bedroom FMR
+3.1%
YoY change
-24%
vs US avg

The verdict

McDonough is the 50th cheapest of 102 counties in Illinois by 2-bedroom FMR.

#50
cheapest of 102 in Illinois (2BR)
-15%
vs the state average
$29,120
income to afford it (30% rule)
+3.1%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (6.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (27.4%); 15 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 McDonough County, IL. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for McDonough County, Illinois at $728 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $951/mo and a studio is $656/mo. This is 24% lower than the national average of $959 and 15% below the Illinois average of $854.

Rent increased3.1% from FY 2025 ($706), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $29,120/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Illinois. Population: 27,370. Population declined 12.2% 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 Illinois's statewide growth of -1.0% over the same period.

What these rents mean for McDonough County

The McDonough County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Illinois'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.

McDonough County's 1-bedroom rent runs 24% below the US average of $959 and 15% lower than the Illinois state average of $854. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$706 in FY 2025 to $728 in FY 2026 - a change of +3.1%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $728, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $29,120 per year (about $2,427/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $951 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 27,370 and a county median household income of $50,434, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $774 · US avg: $893
$656/mo
↑ 4.6% YoY -15% vs state -27% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $854 · US avg: $959
$728/mo
↑ 3.1% YoY -15% vs state -24% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,063 · US avg: $1,175
$951/mo
↑ 3.9% YoY -11% vs state -19% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,370 · US avg: $1,525
$1,231/mo
↑ 5.6% YoY -10% vs state -19% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,561 · US avg: $1,756
$1,512/mo
↑ 9.4% YoY -3% vs state -14% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $627
$656
+$29 (+4.6%)
1 Bedroom $706
$728
+$22 (+3.1%)
2 Bedroom $915
$951
+$36 (+3.9%)
3 Bedroom $1,166
$1,231
+$65 (+5.6%)
4 Bedroom $1,382
$1,512
+$130 (+9.4%)

Affordability Snapshot

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

Required annual income for 1 BR
$29,120
$2,427/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$38,040
$3,170/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
15.6%
Affordable
Need $26,240/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
17.3%
Affordable
Need $29,120/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
22.6%
Affordable
Need $38,040/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
29.3%
Affordable
Need $49,240/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
36%
Burdened
Need $60,480/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.

McDonough County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%22.6%
McDonough County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $50,434 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Illinois rent burden →

Where McDonough sits among every US county

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

$951 higher than 26% 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 McDonough compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Illinois counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows McDonough is highlighted. Nearby Illinois counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Cook County ($1,581), DuPage County ($1,581), Lake County ($1,581), Will County ($1,581), Kane County ($1,581), McHenry County ($1,581), McDonough County (this county) ($728).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $728/mo compares to Illinois salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation IL Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $127,770 6.8% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $101,430 8.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $101,530 8.6% Affordable
Electricians $96,360 9.1% Affordable
Registered Nurses $86,410 10.1% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $79,300 11% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $64,160 13.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $62,290 14% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,790 14.6% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $44,910 19.5% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $44,610 19.6% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $37,010 23.6% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $35,780 24.4% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $34,490 25.3% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $31,900 27.4% Affordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Illinois) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for McDonough (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 28.4% overall, from $567 to $728. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 7.1% (FY 2022).

$550$600$650$700$750 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $728
McDonough County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑3.1% $656 $728 $951
FY 2025 ↑5.1% $627 $706 $915
FY 2024 ↑3.4% $579 $672 $845
FY 2023 ↑5.5% $545 $650 $794
FY 2022 ↑7.1% $515 $616 $735
FY 2021 ↑1.4% $572 $575 $700
FY 2020 $474 $567 $698
Total change (6yr): +28.4%
Annualized: +4.3%/yr
1 BR: $567 → $728

Part of the Macomb, IL Micro Area

McDonough County is a central county of the Macomb, IL micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in Illinois

Largest counties by population in Illinois

Cook County
1 BR: $1,581/mo Pop: 5,225,367
DuPage County
1 BR: $1,581/mo Pop: 930,559
Lake County
1 BR: $1,581/mo Pop: 713,159
Will County
1 BR: $1,581/mo Pop: 696,774
Kane County
1 BR: $1,581/mo Pop: 517,254
McHenry County
1 BR: $1,581/mo Pop: 311,133
Winnebago County
1 BR: $895/mo Pop: 284,591
Madison County
1 BR: $995/mo Pop: 265,512
View all counties in Illinois →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in McDonough County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in McDonough County is $728 per month. A 2-bedroom is $951 and a studio is $656.
How does McDonough County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in McDonough County is 24% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $728 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in McDonough County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $29,120 ($2,427/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in McDonough County.
Is rent going up or down in McDonough County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in McDonough County increased by 3.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $706 to $728.
Which jobs can afford rent in McDonough County? ▼
Based on Illinois BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers can afford a 1-bedroom at $728/mo. 15 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in McDonough County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in McDonough County went from $567 in FY 2020 to $728 in FY 2026, a total change of +28.4% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in McDonough County? ▼
In McDonough County, the FY 2026 FMR of $728/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 McDonough County? ▼
For McDonough County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($728/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat McDonough'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 $728 implies about $29,120/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 McDonough 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.

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.