County FMR · HUD FY2026
Prairie County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Prairie County, AR - 30% below the US average.
- $671
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $880
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -6.2%
- YoY change
- -30%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Prairie is the 31st cheapest of 75 counties in Arkansas by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #284 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has fallen 6.2% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #284
- most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #31
- cheapest of 75 in Arkansas (2BR)
- -11%
- vs the state average
- $26,840
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (30.1%); 14 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Arkansas counties range as much as 56% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Prairie County, AR. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Prairie County, Arkansas is $671 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $880/mo and a studio is $630/mo. This is 30% lower than the national average of $959 and 11% below the Arkansas average of $751.
Rent decreased6.2% from FY 2025 ($715), declining against the trend. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $26,840/year.
Observed renter burden: 23.8% of the 781 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.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 15.7%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.3% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Arkansas. Population: 8,217. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-1.0%, Census ACS). That's slower than Arkansas's statewide growth of +1.4% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area PRAIRIE·COUNTY·AR·AR
Prairie County, AR: $671/mo 1BR · #284 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA AR
- 1BR-FMR $671
- 2BR-FMR $880
- RANK-LOW #284
- YOY-DOWN -6.2%
- VSUS-LOW -30%
- VS-ST-LOW -11% AR
- INC-ROOM 16%
- POP-SMALL 8K
- PHOTO-NEAR Pulaski County
- VOUCH-90-110 $604–$738
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Pulaski ($318 1BR gap)
Read with: Section 8 housing guide
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $650 | $630 | $-20 (-3.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $715 | $671 | $-44 (-6.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $893 | $880 | $-13 (-1.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,076 | $1,150 | +$74 (+6.9%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,256 | $1,240 | $-16 (-1.3%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Prairie County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
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.
Where Prairie sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$880 higher than 9% of 3,145 counties
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 Prairie compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Arkansas counties
- Benton
Benton County
$1,115 1BR FMR / mo
- Washington
Washington County
$1,115 1BR FMR / mo
- Pulaski
Pulaski County
$989 1BR FMR / mo
- Faulkner
Faulkner County
$989 1BR FMR / mo
- Saline
Saline County
$989 1BR FMR / mo
- Sebastian
Sebastian County
$714 1BR FMR / mo
- Prairie
Prairie County
$671 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Prairie is highlighted. Nearby Arkansas counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Benton County ($1,115), Washington County ($1,115), Pulaski County ($989), Faulkner County ($989), Saline County ($989), Sebastian County ($714), Prairie County (this county) ($671).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
With a below-average 1-bedroom at $671/mo, most of these Arkansas occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.
| Occupation | AR Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $96,820 | 8.3% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $77,130 | 10.4% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $64,260 | 12.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $64,180 | 12.5% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $50,550 | 15.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $49,420 | 16.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $49,520 | 16.3% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $48,090 | 16.7% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $46,940 | 17.2% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,380 | 21.5% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,490 | 21.5% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $29,540 | 27.3% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,420 | 27.4% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,270 | 27.5% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $26,740 | 30.1% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Prairie County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Prairie (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 40.4% overall, from $478 to $671. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +13.9% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓6.2% | $630 | $671 | $880 |
| FY 2025 ↑10.3% | $650 | $715 | $893 |
| FY 2024 ↑13.9% | $631 | $648 | $851 |
| FY 2023 ↑13.8% | $561 | $569 | $749 |
| FY 2022 ↑0.8% | $487 | $500 | $658 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.8% | $479 | $496 | $654 |
| FY 2020 | $459 | $478 | $630 |
Where Prairie County Ranks in Arkansas
Prairie 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 #31 of 75 counties in Arkansas. Nearest by rank: Mississippi County ($880), Monroe County ($880), Montgomery County ($880), Newton County ($880), Ouachita County ($880), Phillips County ($880), Pike County ($880), Poinsett County ($880), Prairie County (this county) ($880), Randolph County ($880), Scott County ($880), Searcy County ($880), Sevier County ($880), Sharp County ($880), Van Buren County ($880), White County ($880), Woodruff County ($880).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Prairie County, both outside Arkansas 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 AR (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside AR).
Nearby Counties in Arkansas
Largest counties by population in Arkansas
Showing the 8 largest of 74 other counties in Arkansas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Prairie County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Prairie County is $671 per month. A 2-bedroom is $880 and a studio is $630.
How does Prairie County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Prairie County is 30% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $671 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Prairie County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Prairie County's 2-bedroom FMR of $880 ranks #284 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the lowest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Prairie County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $26,840 ($2,237/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Prairie County.
Is rent going up or down in Prairie County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Prairie County decreased by 6.2% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $715 to $671.
Which jobs can afford rent in Prairie County?
Based on Arkansas BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $671/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Prairie County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Prairie County went from $478 in FY 2020 to $671 in FY 2026, a total change of +40.4% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Prairie County?
In Prairie County, the FY 2026 FMR of $671/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 Prairie County?
For Prairie County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($671/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Prairie County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 15.7%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
What is the unemployment rate in Prairie County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.3% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Prairie's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $671 implies about $26,840/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Arkansas counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Pulaski
- See where Prairie ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.