County FMR · HUD FY2026

Smith County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Smith County, KS - 21% below the US average.

$762
1-bedroom FMR
$877
2-bedroom FMR
-1.0%
YoY change
-21%
vs US avg

The verdict

Smith is the 50th most expensive of 105 counties in Kansas by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #221 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.

#221
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#50
most expensive of 105 in Kansas (2BR)
+1%
vs the state average
$30,480
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (33.9%); 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 Smith County, KS. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Smith County, Kansas is $762 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $877/mo and a studio is $643/mo. This is 21% lower than the national average of $959 and 1% above the Kansas average of $753.

Rent decreased1.0% from FY 2025 ($770), declining against the trend. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $30,480/year.

Observed renter burden: 32.8% of the 268 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 Kansas. Population: 3,561. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.3%, Census ACS). That's slower than Kansas's statewide growth of +1.0% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area SMITH·COUNTY·KS·KS

Smith County, KS: $762/mo 1BR · #221 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA KS
  • 1BR-FMR $762
  • 2BR-FMR $877
  • RANK-LOW #221
  • YOY-FLAT -1.0%
  • VSUS-BELOW -21%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +1% KS
  • INC-ROOM 16%
  • POP-SMALL 4K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Johnson County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $686–$838
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Johnson ($435 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $702 · US avg: $893
$643/mo
↑ 2.9% YoY -8% vs state -28% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $753 · US avg: $959
$762/mo
↓ 1.0% YoY +1% vs state -21% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $947 · US avg: $1,175
$877/mo
↑ 0.6% YoY -7% vs state -25% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,223 · US avg: $1,525
$1,134/mo
↓ 3.7% YoY -7% vs state -26% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,397 · US avg: $1,756
$1,276/mo
↑ 2.0% YoY -9% vs state -27% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $625
$643
+$18 (+2.9%)
1 Bedroom $770
$762
$-8 (-1.0%)
2 Bedroom $872
$877
+$5 (+0.6%)
3 Bedroom $1,178
$1,134
$-44 (-3.7%)
4 Bedroom $1,251
$1,276
+$25 (+2.0%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
13.5%
Affordable
Need $25,720/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
16%
Affordable
Need $30,480/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
18.5%
Affordable
Need $35,080/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
23.9%
Affordable
Need $45,360/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
26.9%
Affordable
Need $51,040/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%18.5%
Smith County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $57,024 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Kansas rent burden →

Where Smith sits among every US county

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

$877 higher than 7% 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 Smith compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Kansas counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Smith is highlighted. Nearby Kansas counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Johnson County ($1,197), Wyandotte County ($1,197), Leavenworth County ($1,197), Douglas County ($1,006), Sedgwick County ($849), Shawnee County ($820), Smith County (this county) ($762).

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 $762/mo, most of these Kansas occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation KS Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $106,660 8.6% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $85,600 10.7% Affordable
Registered Nurses $78,060 11.7% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $76,400 12% Affordable
Electricians $61,830 14.8% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $56,940 16.1% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $56,610 16.2% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $50,820 18% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $48,910 18.7% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $39,210 23.3% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $38,330 23.9% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $32,690 28% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $31,670 28.9% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $27,960 32.7% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $27,000 33.9% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Kansas) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Smith (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 25.3% overall, from $608 to $762. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.5% (FY 2024).

$550$600$650$700$750$800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $762
Smith County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓1.0% $643 $762 $877
FY 2025 ↓1.0% $625 $770 $872
FY 2024 ↑11.5% $633 $778 $882
FY 2023 ↑7.2% $584 $698 $788
FY 2022 ↑3.3% $566 $651 $742
FY 2021 ↑3.6% $543 $630 $718
FY 2020 $524 $608 $714
Total change (6yr): +25.3%
Annualized: +3.8%/yr
1 BR: $608 → $762

Where Smith County Ranks in Kansas

Smith 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 #56 of 105 counties in Kansas. Nearest by rank: Pratt County ($877), Republic County ($877), Rice County ($877), Rooks County ($877), Rush County ($877), Russell County ($877), Scott County ($877), Sheridan County ($877), Smith County (this county) ($877), Stafford County ($877), Stanton County ($877), Thomas County ($877), Trego County ($877), Wallace County ($877), Washington County ($877), Wichita County ($877), Wilson County ($877).

Pratt County
2 BR: $877/mo
Republic County
2 BR: $877/mo
Rice County
2 BR: $877/mo
Rooks County
2 BR: $877/mo
Rush County
2 BR: $877/mo
Russell County
2 BR: $877/mo
Scott County
2 BR: $877/mo
Sheridan County
2 BR: $877/mo
Smith County (this county)
2 BR: $877/mo
Stafford County
2 BR: $877/mo
Stanton County
2 BR: $877/mo
Thomas County
2 BR: $877/mo
Trego County
2 BR: $877/mo
Wallace County
2 BR: $877/mo
Washington County
2 BR: $877/mo
Wichita County
2 BR: $877/mo
Wilson County
2 BR: $877/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Smith County, both outside Kansas 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 KS (FY2026).

Panola County
MS · 2 BR $878/mo
Henry County
AL · 2 BR $878/mo
Cullman County
AL · 2 BR $879/mo
White County
AR · 2 BR $880/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Davidson County
NC · 18.5% of income · 2 BR $960/mo
Morgan County
CO · 18.5% of income · 2 BR $1,160/mo
Grant County
ND · 18.5% of income · 2 BR $873/mo
Midland County
MI · 18.5% of income · 2 BR $1,193/mo

Nearby Counties in Kansas

Largest counties by population in Kansas

Showing the 8 largest of 104 other counties in Kansas.

Johnson County
1 BR: $1,197/mo Pop: 610,742
Sedgwick County
1 BR: $849/mo Pop: 522,700
Shawnee County
1 BR: $820/mo Pop: 178,625
Wyandotte County
1 BR: $1,197/mo Pop: 167,989
Douglas County
1 BR: $1,006/mo Pop: 119,094
Leavenworth County
1 BR: $1,197/mo Pop: 82,050
Riley County
1 BR: $875/mo Pop: 72,105
Butler County
1 BR: $849/mo Pop: 67,618
View all counties in Kansas →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Smith County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Smith County is $762 per month. A 2-bedroom is $877 and a studio is $643.
How does Smith County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Smith County is 21% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $762 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Smith County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Smith County's 2-bedroom FMR of $877 ranks #221 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 Smith County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $30,480 ($2,540/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Smith County.
Is rent going up or down in Smith County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Smith County decreased by 1.0% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $770 to $762.
Which jobs can afford rent in Smith County? ▼
Based on Kansas BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $762/mo. 13 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Smith County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Smith County went from $608 in FY 2020 to $762 in FY 2026, a total change of +25.3% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Smith County? ▼
In Smith County, the FY 2026 FMR of $762/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 Smith County? ▼
For Smith County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($762/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.