County FMR · HUD FY2026

Menard County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Menard County, IL - 1% above the US average.

$970
1-bedroom FMR
$1,203
2-bedroom FMR
+5.3%
YoY change
+1%
vs US avg

The verdict

Menard is the 19th most expensive of 102 counties in Illinois by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #975 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 5.3% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#975
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#19
most expensive of 102 in Illinois (2BR)
+14%
vs the state average
$38,800
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (36.5%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Menard County, IL. Verify with HUD →

Menard County, Illinois carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $970 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,203/mo and a studio is $829/mo. That's 1% above the national benchmark of $959 and 14% above the Illinois average of $854.

Rent increased5.3% from FY 2025 ($921), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $38,800/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 42.8% of the 1,069 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 Illinois. Population: 12,284. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-1.6%, Census ACS). That's in line with Illinois's statewide growth of -1.0% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area MENARD·COUNTY·IL·IL

Menard County, IL: $970/mo 1BR · #975 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA IL
  • 1BR-FMR $970
  • 2BR-FMR $1,203
  • RANK-MID #975
  • YOY-SURGE +5.3%
  • VSUS-NEAR +1%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +14% IL
  • INC-ROOM 14%
  • POP-SMALL 12K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Cook County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $873–$1,067
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Cook ($611 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $774 · US avg: $893
$829/mo
↑ 6.8% YoY +7% vs state -7% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $854 · US avg: $959
$970/mo
↑ 5.3% YoY +14% vs state +1% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,063 · US avg: $1,175
$1,203/mo
↑ 6.3% YoY +13% vs state +2% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,370 · US avg: $1,525
$1,611/mo
↑ 5.4% YoY +18% vs state +6% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,561 · US avg: $1,756
$1,682/mo
↑ 7.5% YoY +8% vs state -4% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $776
$829
+$53 (+6.8%)
1 Bedroom $921
$970
+$49 (+5.3%)
2 Bedroom $1,132
$1,203
+$71 (+6.3%)
3 Bedroom $1,529
$1,611
+$82 (+5.4%)
4 Bedroom $1,564
$1,682
+$118 (+7.5%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
12.2%
Affordable
Need $33,160/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
14.3%
Affordable
Need $38,800/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
17.7%
Affordable
Need $48,120/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
23.8%
Affordable
Need $64,440/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
24.8%
Affordable
Need $67,280/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%17.7%
Menard County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $81,334 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Illinois rent burden →

Where Menard sits among every US county

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

$1,203 Top 31% higher than 69% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Menard compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Illinois counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Menard 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), Menard County (this county) ($970).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $970/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 9.1% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $101,430 11.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $101,530 11.5% Affordable
Electricians $96,360 12.1% Affordable
Registered Nurses $86,410 13.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $79,300 14.7% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $64,160 18.1% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $62,290 18.7% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,790 19.5% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $44,910 25.9% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $44,610 26.1% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $37,010 31.5% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $35,780 32.5% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $34,490 33.7% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $31,900 36.5% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Illinois) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Menard (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 54.7% overall, from $627 to $970. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +17.8% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$700$800$900$1,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $970
Menard County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑5.3% $829 $970 $1,203
FY 2025 ↑5.5% $776 $921 $1,132
FY 2024 ↑17.8% $725 $873 $1,070
FY 2023 ↑8.8% $609 $741 $911
FY 2022 ↓0.4% $560 $681 $843
FY 2021 ↑9.1% $576 $684 $858
FY 2020 $542 $627 $802
Total change (6yr): +54.7%
Annualized: +7.5%/yr
1 BR: $627 → $970

Part of the Springfield, IL Metro Area

Menard County is a outlying county of the Springfield, IL metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.

Menard County ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Sangamon County ($970), Menard County (this county) ($970).

Sangamon County
1 BR: $970/mo
Menard County (this county)
1 BR: $970/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Menard County, both outside Illinois 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 IL (FY2026).

Montcalm County
MI · 2 BR $1,203/mo
East Baton Rouge Parish
LA · 2 BR $1,204/mo
Livingston Parish
LA · 2 BR $1,204/mo
Ascension Parish
LA · 2 BR $1,204/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Doniphan County
KS · 17.7% of income · 2 BR $1,077/mo
Slope County
ND · 17.7% of income · 2 BR $924/mo
Morton County
ND · 17.7% of income · 2 BR $1,175/mo
Lee County
MS · 17.8% of income · 2 BR $994/mo

Nearby Counties in Illinois

Largest counties by population in Illinois

Showing the 8 largest of 101 other counties 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 Menard County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Menard County is $970 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,203 and a studio is $829.
How does Menard County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Menard County is 1% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $970 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Menard County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Menard County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,203 ranks #975 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 Menard County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $38,800 ($3,233/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Menard County.
Is rent going up or down in Menard County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Menard County increased by 5.3% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $921 to $970.
Which jobs can afford rent in Menard 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 $970/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Menard County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Menard County went from $627 in FY 2020 to $970 in FY 2026, a total change of +54.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Menard County? ▼
In Menard County, the FY 2026 FMR of $970/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 Menard County? ▼
For Menard County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($970/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.