County FMR · HUD FY2026

Pope County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Pope County, IL - 14% below the US average.

$828
1-bedroom FMR
$1,087
2-bedroom FMR
+23.2%
YoY change
-14%
vs US avg

The verdict

Pope is the 28th most expensive of 102 counties in Illinois by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,352 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 23.2% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#1,352
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#28
most expensive of 102 in Illinois (2BR)
-3%
vs the state average
$33,120
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (31.1%); 14 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 Pope County, IL. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Pope County, Illinois at $828 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,087/mo and a studio is $749/mo. This is 14% lower than the national average of $959 and 3% below the Illinois average of $854.

Rent increased23.2% from FY 2025 ($672), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $33,120/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 16.3% of the 190 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: 3,799. Population declined 11.6% 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.

FMR filing desk

Area POPE·COUNTY·IL·IL

Pope County, IL: $828/mo 1BR · #1352 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA IL
  • 1BR-FMR $828
  • 2BR-FMR $1,087
  • RANK-MID #1,352
  • YOY-SURGE +23.2%
  • VSUS-BELOW -14%
  • VS-ST-NEAR -3% IL
  • INC-ROOM 16%
  • POP-SMALL 4K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Cook County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $745–$911
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Cook ($753 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $774 · US avg: $893
$749/mo
↑ 24.0% YoY -3% vs state -16% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $854 · US avg: $959
$828/mo
↑ 23.2% YoY -3% vs state -14% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,063 · US avg: $1,175
$1,087/mo
↑ 23.4% YoY +2% vs state -7% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,370 · US avg: $1,525
$1,375/mo
↑ 22.3% YoY +0% vs state -10% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,561 · US avg: $1,756
$1,553/mo
↑ 23.7% YoY -1% vs state -12% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $604
$749
+$145 (+24.0%)
1 Bedroom $672
$828
+$156 (+23.2%)
2 Bedroom $881
$1,087
+$206 (+23.4%)
3 Bedroom $1,124
$1,375
+$251 (+22.3%)
4 Bedroom $1,255
$1,553
+$298 (+23.7%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
14.4%
Affordable
Need $29,960/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
15.9%
Affordable
Need $33,120/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.9%
Affordable
Need $43,480/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
26.4%
Affordable
Need $55,000/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
29.8%
Affordable
Need $62,120/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%20.9%
Pope County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $62,500 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Illinois rent burden →

Where Pope sits among every US county

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

$1,087 higher than 57% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Pope compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Illinois counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Pope 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), Pope County (this county) ($828).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $828/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 7.8% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $101,430 9.8% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $101,530 9.8% Affordable
Electricians $96,360 10.3% Affordable
Registered Nurses $86,410 11.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $79,300 12.5% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $64,160 15.5% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $62,290 16% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,790 16.6% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $44,910 22.1% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $44,610 22.3% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $37,010 26.8% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $35,780 27.8% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $34,490 28.8% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $31,900 31.1% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Illinois) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Pope (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 56.2% overall, from $530 to $828. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 23.2% (FY 2026), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$500$600$700$800$900 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $828
Pope County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑23.2% $749 $828 $1,087
FY 2025 ↑8.9% $604 $672 $881
FY 2024 ↓9.9% $553 $617 $807
FY 2023 ↑6.2% $531 $685 $774
FY 2022 ↑5.0% $503 $645 $735
FY 2021 ↑15.8% $476 $614 $700
FY 2020 $474 $530 $698
Total change (6yr): +56.2%
Annualized: +7.7%/yr
1 BR: $530 → $828

Where Pope County Ranks in Illinois

Pope County is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #75 of 102 counties in Illinois. Nearest by rank: Peoria County ($1,039), Stark County ($1,039), Tazewell County ($1,039), Woodford County ($1,039), Brown County ($1,063), Macon County ($1,063), Adams County ($1,064), La Salle County ($1,079), Pope County (this county) ($1,087), Ogle County ($1,118), Champaign County ($1,122), Piatt County ($1,122), Henry County ($1,143), Mercer County ($1,143), Rock Island County ($1,143), Boone County ($1,175), Winnebago County ($1,175).

Peoria County
2 BR: $1,039/mo
Stark County
2 BR: $1,039/mo
Tazewell County
2 BR: $1,039/mo
Woodford County
2 BR: $1,039/mo
Brown County
2 BR: $1,063/mo
Macon County
2 BR: $1,063/mo
Adams County
2 BR: $1,064/mo
La Salle County
2 BR: $1,079/mo
Pope County (this county)
2 BR: $1,087/mo
Ogle County
2 BR: $1,118/mo
Champaign County
2 BR: $1,122/mo
Piatt County
2 BR: $1,122/mo
Henry County
2 BR: $1,143/mo
Mercer County
2 BR: $1,143/mo
Rock Island County
2 BR: $1,143/mo
Boone County
2 BR: $1,175/mo
Winnebago County
2 BR: $1,175/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Pope 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).

Fulton County
NY · 2 BR $1,087/mo
Parmer County
TX · 2 BR $1,087/mo
Stark County
OH · 2 BR $1,086/mo
Muscogee County
GA · 2 BR $1,088/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Chisago County
MN · 20.9% of income · 2 BR $1,709/mo
Childress County
TX · 20.9% of income · 2 BR $1,049/mo
Carroll County
VA · 20.9% of income · 2 BR $914/mo
Lenawee County
MI · 20.9% of income · 2 BR $1,166/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 Pope County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Pope County is $828 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,087 and a studio is $749.
How does Pope County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Pope County is 14% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $828 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Pope County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Pope County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,087 ranks #1,352 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 Pope County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $33,120 ($2,760/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Pope County.
Is rent going up or down in Pope County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Pope County increased by 23.2% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $672 to $828.
Which jobs can afford rent in Pope 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 $828/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Pope County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Pope County went from $530 in FY 2020 to $828 in FY 2026, a total change of +56.2% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Pope County? ▼
In Pope County, the FY 2026 FMR of $828/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 Pope County? ▼
For Pope County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($828/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.