County FMR · HUD FY2026
Putnam County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Putnam County, MO - 27% below the US average.
- $698
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $888
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +7.6%
- YoY change
- -27%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Putnam is the 42nd cheapest of 116 counties in Missouri by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #347 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 7.6% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #347
- most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #42
- cheapest of 116 in Missouri (2BR)
- -10%
- vs the state average
- $27,920
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.3%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (28.8%); 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 Putnam County, MO. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Putnam County, Missouri is $698 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $888/mo and a studio is $660/mo. This is 27% lower than the national average of $959 and 10% below the Missouri average of $777.
Rent increased7.6% from FY 2025 ($649), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $27,920/year.
Observed renter burden: 47.3% of the 353 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 4.6%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.4% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Missouri. Population: 4,698. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.9%, Census ACS). That's slower than Missouri's statewide growth of +1.3% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area PUTNAM·COUNTY·MO·MO
Putnam County, MO: $698/mo 1BR · #347 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA MO
- 1BR-FMR $698
- 2BR-FMR $888
- RANK-MID #347
- YOY-SURGE +7.6%
- VSUS-LOW -27%
- VS-ST-LOW -10% MO
- INC-ROOM 15%
- POP-SMALL 5K
- PHOTO-NEAR St. Louis County
- VOUCH-90-110 $628–$768
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: St. Louis ($297 1BR gap)
Read with: Section 8 housing guide
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $615 | $660 | +$45 (+7.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $649 | $698 | +$49 (+7.6%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $824 | $888 | +$64 (+7.8%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $993 | $1,065 | +$72 (+7.3%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,242 | $1,320 | +$78 (+6.3%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Putnam 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 Putnam sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$888 higher than 11% 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 Putnam compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Missouri counties
- Jackson
Jackson County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Clay
Clay County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Louis
St. Louis County
$995 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Charles
St. Charles County
$995 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Louis city
St. Louis city
$995 1BR FMR / mo
- Greene
Greene County
$883 1BR FMR / mo
- Putnam
Putnam County
$698 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Putnam 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), Putnam County (this county) ($698).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
With a below-average 1-bedroom at $698/mo, most of these Missouri occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.
| Occupation | MO Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $114,550 | 7.3% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,770 | 10.5% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $77,410 | 10.8% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $73,210 | 11.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $70,950 | 11.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,720 | 13.8% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $58,730 | 14.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,540 | 16.6% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $48,250 | 17.4% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $41,850 | 20% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,990 | 22% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $34,080 | 24.6% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,250 | 26.8% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,310 | 28.6% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,060 | 28.8% | Affordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Putnam County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Putnam (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 45.1% overall, from $481 to $698. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.4% (FY 2023).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑7.6% | $660 | $698 | $888 |
| FY 2025 ↓0.6% | $615 | $649 | $824 |
| FY 2024 ↑9.6% | $601 | $653 | $797 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.4% | $549 | $596 | $746 |
| FY 2022 ↑7.6% | $489 | $540 | $685 |
| FY 2021 ↑4.4% | $457 | $502 | $662 |
| FY 2020 | $426 | $481 | $634 |
Where Putnam County Ranks in Missouri
Putnam 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 #42 of 116 counties in Missouri. Nearest by rank: Mississippi County ($888), Monroe County ($888), Montgomery County ($888), Morgan County ($888), Oregon County ($888), Ozark County ($888), Pemiscot County ($888), Polk County ($888), Putnam County (this county) ($888), Ralls County ($888), Randolph County ($888), Reynolds County ($888), Ripley County ($888), Saline County ($888), Schuyler County ($888), Scotland County ($888), Shannon County ($888).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Putnam 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).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MO).
Nearby Counties in Missouri
Largest counties by population in Missouri
Showing the 8 largest of 115 other counties in Missouri.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Putnam County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Putnam County is $698 per month. A 2-bedroom is $888 and a studio is $660.
How does Putnam County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Putnam County is 27% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $698 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Putnam County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Putnam County's 2-bedroom FMR of $888 ranks #347 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 Putnam County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $27,920 ($2,327/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Putnam County.
Is rent going up or down in Putnam County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Putnam County increased by 7.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $649 to $698.
Which jobs can afford rent in Putnam 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 $698/mo. 15 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Putnam County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Putnam County went from $481 in FY 2020 to $698 in FY 2026, a total change of +45.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Putnam County?
In Putnam County, the FY 2026 FMR of $698/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 Putnam County?
For Putnam County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($698/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Putnam County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 4.6%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in Putnam County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.4% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Putnam'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 $698 implies about $27,920/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Missouri counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs St. Louis
- See where Putnam 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.