County FMR · HUD FY2026

Rapides Parish Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Rapides Parish, LA - 19% below the US average.

$780
1-bedroom FMR
$994
2-bedroom FMR
+2.4%
YoY change
-19%
vs US avg

The verdict

Rapides is the 29th most expensive of 64 counties in Louisiana by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,416 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.

#1,416
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#29
most expensive of 64 in Louisiana (2BR)
-6%
vs the state average
$31,200
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (40.5%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Rapides Parish, LA. Verify with HUD →

Rapides Parish, Louisiana carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $780 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $994/mo and a studio is $728/mo. That's 19% below the national benchmark of $959 and 6% below the Louisiana average of $832.

Rent increased2.4% from FY 2025 ($762), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $31,200/year.

Observed renter burden: 46.5% of the 16,889 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 Louisiana. Population: 129,536. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.3%, Census ACS). That's in line with Louisiana's statewide growth of -0.9% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area RAPIDES·PARISH·LA·LA

Rapides Parish, LA: $780/mo 1BR · #1416 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA LA
  • 1BR-FMR $780
  • 2BR-FMR $994
  • RANK-MID #1,416
  • YOY-UP +2.4%
  • VSUS-BELOW -19%
  • VS-ST-NEAR -6% LA
  • INC-ROOM 17%
  • POP-MID 130K
  • PHOTO-NEAR East Baton Rouge P
  • VOUCH-90-110 $702–$858
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: East Baton Rouge ($284 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $763 · US avg: $893
$728/mo
↑ 2.5% YoY -5% vs state -18% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $832 · US avg: $959
$780/mo
↑ 2.4% YoY -6% vs state -19% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,007 · US avg: $1,175
$994/mo
↓ 0.6% YoY -1% vs state -15% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,298 · US avg: $1,525
$1,342/mo
↓ 0.9% YoY +3% vs state -12% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,508 · US avg: $1,756
$1,523/mo
↑ 0.7% YoY +1% vs state -13% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $710
$728
+$18 (+2.5%)
1 Bedroom $762
$780
+$18 (+2.4%)
2 Bedroom $1,000
$994
$-6 (-0.6%)
3 Bedroom $1,354
$1,342
$-12 (-0.9%)
4 Bedroom $1,513
$1,523
+$10 (+0.7%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
15.6%
Affordable
Need $29,120/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
16.7%
Affordable
Need $31,200/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
21.3%
Affordable
Need $39,760/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
28.8%
Affordable
Need $53,680/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
32.7%
Burdened
Need $60,920/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%21.3%
Rapides Parish 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $55,946 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Louisiana rent burden →

Where Rapides sits among every US county

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

$994 higher than 45% 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 Rapides compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Louisiana counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Rapides is highlighted. Nearby Louisiana counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: St. Tammany Parish ($1,130), Jefferson Parish ($1,113), Orleans Parish ($1,113), East Baton Rouge Parish ($1,064), Caddo Parish ($982), Lafayette Parish ($898), Rapides Parish (this county) ($780).

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 $780/mo, most of these Louisiana occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation LA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $102,290 9.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $102,060 9.2% Affordable
Registered Nurses $78,880 11.9% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $69,540 13.5% Affordable
Electricians $59,590 15.7% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $52,280 17.9% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $50,580 18.5% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $48,770 19.2% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $47,580 19.7% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $38,700 24.2% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $35,890 26.1% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $28,820 32.5% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $27,940 33.5% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $27,040 34.6% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $23,110 40.5% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Louisiana) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Rapides (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 21.9% overall, from $640 to $780. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.8% (FY 2024).

$600$650$700$750$800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $780
Rapides Parish 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑2.4% $728 $780 $994
FY 2025 ↑0.7% $710 $762 $1,000
FY 2024 ↑10.8% $674 $757 $995
FY 2023 ↑7.2% $601 $683 $899
FY 2022 ↓2.0% $543 $637 $818
FY 2021 ↑1.6% $540 $650 $819
FY 2020 $517 $640 $794
Total change (6yr): +21.9%
Annualized: +3.4%/yr
1 BR: $640 → $780

Part of the Alexandria, LA Metro Area

Rapides Parish is a central county of the Alexandria, LA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.

Rapides Parish ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Grant Parish ($780), Rapides Parish (this county) ($780).

Grant Parish
1 BR: $780/mo
Rapides Parish (this county)
1 BR: $780/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Rapides Parish, both outside Louisiana 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 LA (FY2026).

Lee County
MS · 2 BR $994/mo
Pontotoc County
OK · 2 BR $994/mo
Newberry County
SC · 2 BR $994/mo
Hamilton County
IA · 2 BR $994/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Laclede County
MO · 21.3% of income · 2 BR $903/mo
Sioux County
NE · 21.3% of income · 2 BR $961/mo
Harrison County
IA · 21.3% of income · 2 BR $1,368/mo
Tipton County
TN · 21.3% of income · 2 BR $1,274/mo

Nearby Counties in Louisiana

Largest counties by population in Louisiana

Showing the 8 largest of 63 other counties in Louisiana.

East Baton Rouge Parish
1 BR: $1,064/mo Pop: 454,369
Jefferson Parish
1 BR: $1,113/mo Pop: 436,171
Orleans Parish
1 BR: $1,113/mo Pop: 380,408
St. Tammany Parish
1 BR: $1,130/mo Pop: 266,168
Lafayette Parish
1 BR: $898/mo Pop: 243,175
Caddo Parish
1 BR: $982/mo Pop: 236,259
Calcasieu Parish
1 BR: $928/mo Pop: 210,770
Ouachita Parish
1 BR: $793/mo Pop: 159,585
View all counties in Louisiana →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Rapides Parish? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Rapides Parish is $780 per month. A 2-bedroom is $994 and a studio is $728.
How does Rapides Parish rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Rapides Parish is 19% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $780 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Rapides Parish rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Rapides Parish's 2-bedroom FMR of $994 ranks #1,416 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Rapides Parish? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $31,200 ($2,600/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Rapides Parish.
Is rent going up or down in Rapides Parish? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Rapides Parish increased by 2.4% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $762 to $780.
Which jobs can afford rent in Rapides Parish? ▼
Based on Louisiana BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $780/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Rapides Parish over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Rapides Parish went from $640 in FY 2020 to $780 in FY 2026, a total change of +21.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Rapides Parish? ▼
In Rapides Parish, the FY 2026 FMR of $780/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 Rapides Parish? ▼
For Rapides Parish, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($780/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.