County FMR · HUD FY2026

Phelps County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Phelps County, MO - 23% below the US average.

$742
1-bedroom FMR
$933
2-bedroom FMR
+9.1%
YoY change
-23%
vs US avg

The verdict

Phelps is the 40th most expensive of 116 counties in Missouri by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #693 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 9.1% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#693
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#40
most expensive of 116 in Missouri (2BR)
-5%
vs the state average
$29,680
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.8%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (30.6%); 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 Phelps County, MO. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Phelps County, Missouri at $742 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $933/mo and a studio is $730/mo. This is 23% lower than the national average of $959 and 5% below the Missouri average of $777.

Rent increased9.1% from FY 2025 ($680), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $29,680/year.

Observed renter burden: 50.8% of the 6,721 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 Missouri. Population: 44,843. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.4%, Census ACS). That's in line with Missouri's statewide growth of +1.3% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area PHELPS·COUNTY·MO·MO

Phelps County, MO: $742/mo 1BR · #693 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA MO
  • 1BR-FMR $742
  • 2BR-FMR $933
  • RANK-MID #693
  • YOY-SURGE +9.1%
  • VSUS-BELOW -23%
  • VS-ST-NEAR -5% MO
  • INC-ROOM 16%
  • POP-SMALL 45K
  • PHOTO-NEAR St. Louis County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $668–$816
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: St. Louis ($253 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $734 · US avg: $893
$730/mo
↑ 8.6% YoY -1% vs state -18% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $777 · US avg: $959
$742/mo
↑ 9.1% YoY -5% vs state -23% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $972 · US avg: $1,175
$933/mo
↑ 6.3% YoY -4% vs state -21% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,268 · US avg: $1,525
$1,231/mo
↑ 6.1% YoY -3% vs state -19% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,460 · US avg: $1,756
$1,235/mo
↑ 6.1% YoY -15% vs state -30% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $672
$730
+$58 (+8.6%)
1 Bedroom $680
$742
+$62 (+9.1%)
2 Bedroom $878
$933
+$55 (+6.3%)
3 Bedroom $1,160
$1,231
+$71 (+6.1%)
4 Bedroom $1,164
$1,235
+$71 (+6.1%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
15.8%
Affordable
Need $29,200/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
16.1%
Affordable
Need $29,680/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.2%
Affordable
Need $37,320/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
26.7%
Affordable
Need $49,240/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
26.7%
Affordable
Need $49,400/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%20.2%
Phelps County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $55,427 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Missouri rent burden →

Where Phelps sits among every US county

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

$933 higher than 22% 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 Phelps compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Missouri counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Phelps is highlighted. Nearby Missouri counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Jackson County ($1,197), Clay County ($1,197), St. Louis County ($995), St. Charles County ($995), St. Louis city ($995), Greene County ($883), Phelps County (this county) ($742).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $742/mo, most of these Missouri occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation MO Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $114,550 7.8% Affordable
Registered Nurses $79,770 11.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $77,410 11.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $73,210 12.2% Affordable
Electricians $70,950 12.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $60,720 14.7% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $58,730 15.2% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,540 17.6% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $48,250 18.5% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $41,850 21.3% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $37,990 23.4% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $34,080 26.1% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $31,250 28.5% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $29,310 30.4% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $29,060 30.6% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Missouri) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Phelps (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 36.1% overall, from $545 to $742. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 9.1% (FY 2026).

$500$550$600$650$700$750$800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $742
Phelps County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑9.1% $730 $742 $933
FY 2025 ↑3.3% $672 $680 $878
FY 2024 ↑1.7% $646 $658 $865
FY 2023 ↑7.7% $610 $647 $852
FY 2022 ↑8.1% $560 $601 $791
FY 2021 ↑2.0% $506 $556 $733
FY 2020 $482 $545 $718
Total change (6yr): +36.1%
Annualized: +5.3%/yr
1 BR: $545 → $742

Part of the Rolla, MO Micro Area

Phelps County is a central county of the Rolla, MO micropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Phelps County, both outside Missouri 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 MO (FY2026).

Coffee County
AL · 2 BR $933/mo
Jasper County
IL · 2 BR $933/mo
Ottawa County
KS · 2 BR $933/mo
Adams County
IA · 2 BR $933/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Hancock County
MS · 20.2% of income · 2 BR $1,140/mo
Lawrence County
PA · 20.2% of income · 2 BR $1,023/mo
Runnels County
TX · 20.2% of income · 2 BR $1,069/mo
Morgan County
GA · 20.2% of income · 2 BR $1,442/mo

Nearby Counties in Missouri

Largest counties by population in Missouri

Showing the 8 largest of 115 other counties in Missouri.

St. Louis County
1 BR: $995/mo Pop: 999,703
Jackson County
1 BR: $1,197/mo Pop: 715,526
St. Charles County
1 BR: $995/mo Pop: 406,262
Greene County
1 BR: $883/mo Pop: 299,188
St. Louis city
1 BR: $995/mo Pop: 298,018
Clay County
1 BR: $1,197/mo Pop: 253,085
Jefferson County
1 BR: $995/mo Pop: 226,984
Boone County
1 BR: $1,011/mo Pop: 184,043
View all counties in Missouri →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Phelps County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Phelps County is $742 per month. A 2-bedroom is $933 and a studio is $730.
How does Phelps County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Phelps County is 23% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $742 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Phelps County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Phelps County's 2-bedroom FMR of $933 ranks #693 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the lower-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Phelps County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $29,680 ($2,473/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Phelps County.
Is rent going up or down in Phelps County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Phelps County increased by 9.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $680 to $742.
Which jobs can afford rent in Phelps County? ▼
Based on Missouri BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $742/mo. 13 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Phelps County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Phelps County went from $545 in FY 2020 to $742 in FY 2026, a total change of +36.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Phelps County? ▼
In Phelps County, the FY 2026 FMR of $742/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 Phelps County? ▼
For Phelps County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($742/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.