County FMR · HUD FY2026

Stephenson County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Stephenson County, IL - 27% below the US average.

$698
1-bedroom FMR
$916
2-bedroom FMR
+5.3%
YoY change
-27%
vs US avg

The verdict

Stephenson is the 37th cheapest of 102 counties in Illinois by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #473 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 5.3% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#473
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#37
cheapest of 102 in Illinois (2BR)
-18%
vs the state average
$27,920
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (6.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (26.3%); 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 Stephenson County, IL. Verify with HUD →

Stephenson County, Illinois carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $698 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $916/mo and a studio is $694/mo. That's 27% below the national benchmark of $959 and 18% below the Illinois average of $854.

Rent increased5.3% from FY 2025 ($663), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $27,920/year.

Observed renter burden: 40.9% of the 5,645 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 Illinois. Population: 44,482. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-3.1%, Census ACS). That's slower than Illinois's statewide growth of -1.0% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area STEPHENSON·COUNTY·IL·IL

Stephenson County, IL: $698/mo 1BR · #473 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA IL
  • 1BR-FMR $698
  • 2BR-FMR $916
  • RANK-MID #473
  • YOY-SURGE +5.3%
  • VSUS-LOW -27%
  • VS-ST-LOW -18% IL
  • INC-ROOM 14%
  • POP-SMALL 44K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Cook County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $628–$768
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Cook ($883 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $774 · US avg: $893
$694/mo
↑ 16.2% YoY -10% vs state -22% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $854 · US avg: $959
$698/mo
↑ 5.3% YoY -18% vs state -27% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,063 · US avg: $1,175
$916/mo
↑ 5.3% YoY -14% vs state -22% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,370 · US avg: $1,525
$1,124/mo
↑ 6.4% YoY -18% vs state -26% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,561 · US avg: $1,756
$1,342/mo
↑ 9.6% YoY -14% vs state -24% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $597
$694
+$97 (+16.2%)
1 Bedroom $663
$698
+$35 (+5.3%)
2 Bedroom $870
$916
+$46 (+5.3%)
3 Bedroom $1,056
$1,124
+$68 (+6.4%)
4 Bedroom $1,225
$1,342
+$117 (+9.6%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
13.4%
Affordable
Need $27,760/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
13.5%
Affordable
Need $27,920/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
17.7%
Affordable
Need $36,640/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
21.8%
Affordable
Need $44,960/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
26%
Affordable
Need $53,680/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%17.7%
Stephenson County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $61,943 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Illinois rent burden →

Where Stephenson sits among every US county

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

$916 higher than 15% 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 Stephenson compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Illinois counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Stephenson is highlighted. Nearby Illinois counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Cook County ($1,581), DuPage County ($1,581), Lake County ($1,581), Will County ($1,581), Kane County ($1,581), McHenry County ($1,581), Stephenson County (this county) ($698).

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 $698/mo, most of these Illinois occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation IL Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $127,770 6.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $101,530 8.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $101,430 8.3% Affordable
Electricians $96,360 8.7% Affordable
Registered Nurses $86,410 9.7% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $79,300 10.6% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $64,160 13.1% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $62,290 13.4% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,790 14% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $44,910 18.7% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $44,610 18.8% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $37,010 22.6% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $35,780 23.4% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $34,490 24.3% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $31,900 26.3% Affordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Illinois) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Stephenson (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 28.1% overall, from $545 to $698. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 6.9% (FY 2025).

$500$550$600$650$700$750 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $698
Stephenson County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑5.3% $694 $698 $916
FY 2025 ↑6.9% $597 $663 $870
FY 2024 ↑5.4% $552 $620 $814
FY 2023 ↑5.2% $522 $588 $774
FY 2022 ↑2.2% $501 $559 $735
FY 2021 ↑0.4% $485 $547 $700
FY 2020 $471 $545 $698
Total change (6yr): +28.1%
Annualized: +4.2%/yr
1 BR: $545 → $698

Part of the Freeport, IL Micro Area

Stephenson County is a central county of the Freeport, IL micropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Stephenson County, both outside Illinois 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 IL (FY2026).

Jones County
MS · 2 BR $917/mo
Fayette County
WV · 2 BR $915/mo
Carlisle County
KY · 2 BR $915/mo
Pittsylvania County
VA · 2 BR $914/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Doniphan County
KS · 17.7% of income · 2 BR $1,077/mo
Slope County
ND · 17.7% of income · 2 BR $924/mo
Morton County
ND · 17.7% of income · 2 BR $1,175/mo
Clark County
SD · 17.7% of income · 2 BR $929/mo

Nearby Counties in Illinois

Largest counties by population in Illinois

Showing the 8 largest of 101 other counties in Illinois.

Cook County
1 BR: $1,581/mo Pop: 5,225,367
DuPage County
1 BR: $1,581/mo Pop: 930,559
Lake County
1 BR: $1,581/mo Pop: 713,159
Will County
1 BR: $1,581/mo Pop: 696,774
Kane County
1 BR: $1,581/mo Pop: 517,254
McHenry County
1 BR: $1,581/mo Pop: 311,133
Winnebago County
1 BR: $895/mo Pop: 284,591
Madison County
1 BR: $995/mo Pop: 265,512
View all counties in Illinois →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Stephenson County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Stephenson County is $698 per month. A 2-bedroom is $916 and a studio is $694.
How does Stephenson County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Stephenson County is 27% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $698 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Stephenson County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Stephenson County's 2-bedroom FMR of $916 ranks #473 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 Stephenson 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 Stephenson County.
Is rent going up or down in Stephenson County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Stephenson County increased by 5.3% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $663 to $698.
Which jobs can afford rent in Stephenson County? ▼
Based on Illinois BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers, 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 Stephenson County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Stephenson County went from $545 in FY 2020 to $698 in FY 2026, a total change of +28.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Stephenson County? ▼
In Stephenson 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 Stephenson County? ▼
For Stephenson County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($698/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.