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.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 14.1%, 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 3.4% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
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)
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.
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 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
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
- Johnson
Johnson County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Wyandotte
Wyandotte County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Leavenworth
Leavenworth County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Douglas
Douglas County
$1,006 1BR FMR / mo
- Sedgwick
Sedgwick County
$849 1BR FMR / mo
- Shawnee
Shawnee County
$820 1BR FMR / mo
- Smith
Smith County
$762 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).
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 |
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).
| 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 |
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).
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).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside KS).
Nearby Counties in Kansas
Largest counties by population in Kansas
Showing the 8 largest of 104 other 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).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Smith County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 14.1%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
What is the unemployment rate in Smith 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 Smith'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 $762 implies about $30,480/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Kansas counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Johnson
- See where Smith 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.