County FMR · HUD FY2026

Tensas Parish Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Tensas Parish, LA - 21% below the US average.

$761
1-bedroom FMR
$834
2-bedroom FMR
-6.7%
YoY change
-21%
vs US avg

The verdict

Tensas is the 15th cheapest of 64 counties in Louisiana by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #32 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has fallen 6.7% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#32
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#15
cheapest of 64 in Louisiana (2BR)
-9%
vs the state average
$30,440
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (39.5%).

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

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Tensas Parish, Louisiana is $761 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $834/mo and a studio is $601/mo. This is 21% lower than the national average of $959 and 9% below the Louisiana average of $832.

Rent decreased6.7% from FY 2025 ($816), declining against the trend. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $30,440/year.

Observed renter burden: 26.7% of the 495 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: 4,127. Population declined 14.4% over the past five years (Census ACS), a trend that can ease rental-market pressure over time even as FMR reflects recent rent levels. That's slower than Louisiana's statewide growth of -0.9% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area TENSAS·PARISH·LA·LA

Tensas Parish, LA: $761/mo 1BR · #32 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA LA
  • 1BR-FMR $761
  • 2BR-FMR $834
  • RANK-LOW #32
  • YOY-DOWN -6.7%
  • VSUS-BELOW -21%
  • VS-ST-LOW -9% LA
  • INC-MID 25%
  • POP-SMALL 4K
  • PHOTO-NEAR East Baton Rouge P
  • VOUCH-90-110 $685–$837
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: East Baton Rouge ($303 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $763 · US avg: $893
$601/mo
↓ 9.8% YoY -21% vs state -33% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $832 · US avg: $959
$761/mo
↓ 6.7% YoY -9% vs state -21% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,007 · US avg: $1,175
$834/mo
↓ 7.6% YoY -17% vs state -29% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,298 · US avg: $1,525
$1,160/mo
↓ 8.3% YoY -11% vs state -24% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,508 · US avg: $1,756
$1,249/mo
↓ 5.2% YoY -17% vs state -29% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $666
$601
$-65 (-9.8%)
1 Bedroom $816
$761
$-55 (-6.7%)
2 Bedroom $903
$834
$-69 (-7.6%)
3 Bedroom $1,265
$1,160
$-105 (-8.3%)
4 Bedroom $1,318
$1,249
$-69 (-5.2%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
20%
Affordable
Need $24,040/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
25.3%
Affordable
Need $30,440/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
27.7%
Affordable
Need $33,360/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
38.6%
Burdened
Need $46,400/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
41.5%
Burdened
Need $49,960/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%27.7%
Tensas Parish 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $36,074 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Louisiana rent burden →

Where Tensas sits among every US county

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

$834 higher than 1% 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 Tensas compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Louisiana counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Tensas 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), Tensas Parish (this county) ($761).

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 $761/mo, most of these Louisiana occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation LA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $102,290 8.9% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $102,060 8.9% Affordable
Registered Nurses $78,880 11.6% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $69,540 13.1% Affordable
Electricians $59,590 15.3% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $52,280 17.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $50,580 18.1% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $48,770 18.7% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $47,580 19.2% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $38,700 23.6% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $35,890 25.4% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $28,820 31.7% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $27,940 32.7% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $27,040 33.8% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $23,110 39.5% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Louisiana) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Tensas (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 34.5% overall, from $566 to $761. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 30.4% (FY 2025), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$500$600$700$800$900 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $761
Tensas Parish 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓6.7% $601 $761 $834
FY 2025 ↑30.4% $666 $816 $903
FY 2024 ↑11.4% $615 $626 $822
FY 2023 ↓8.0% $558 $562 $740
FY 2022 ↓3.9% $529 $611 $696
FY 2021 ↑12.4% $568 $636 $725
FY 2020 $562 $566 $710
Total change (6yr): +34.5%
Annualized: +5.1%/yr
1 BR: $566 → $761

Where Tensas Parish Ranks in Louisiana

Tensas Parish 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 #15 of 64 counties in Louisiana. Nearest by rank: East Carroll Parish ($834), Evangeline Parish ($834), Franklin Parish ($834), Jackson Parish ($834), Madison Parish ($834), Morehouse Parish ($834), Red River Parish ($834), St. Landry Parish ($834), Tensas Parish (this county) ($834), Vermilion Parish ($834), Washington Parish ($834), West Carroll Parish ($834), Winn Parish ($834), La Salle Parish ($851), Webster Parish ($854), Avoyelles Parish ($857), Iberville Parish ($866).

East Carroll Parish
2 BR: $834/mo
Evangeline Parish
2 BR: $834/mo
Franklin Parish
2 BR: $834/mo
Jackson Parish
2 BR: $834/mo
Madison Parish
2 BR: $834/mo
Morehouse Parish
2 BR: $834/mo
Red River Parish
2 BR: $834/mo
St. Landry Parish
2 BR: $834/mo
Tensas Parish (this county)
2 BR: $834/mo
Vermilion Parish
2 BR: $834/mo
Washington Parish
2 BR: $834/mo
West Carroll Parish
2 BR: $834/mo
Winn Parish
2 BR: $834/mo
La Salle Parish
2 BR: $851/mo
Webster Parish
2 BR: $854/mo
Avoyelles Parish
2 BR: $857/mo
Iberville Parish
2 BR: $866/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Tensas 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).

Dallas County
AL · 2 BR $836/mo
Butler County
AL · 2 BR $837/mo
Sumter County
AL · 2 BR $827/mo
Washington County
MS · 2 BR $842/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Scott County
VA · 27.8% of income · 2 BR $1,044/mo
Merced County
CA · 27.7% of income · 2 BR $1,503/mo
San Mateo County
CA · 27.7% of income · 2 BR $3,604/mo
Cochran County
TX · 27.7% of income · 2 BR $973/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 Tensas Parish? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Tensas Parish is $761 per month. A 2-bedroom is $834 and a studio is $601.
How does Tensas Parish rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Tensas Parish is 21% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $761 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Tensas Parish rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Tensas Parish's 2-bedroom FMR of $834 ranks #32 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 Tensas Parish? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $30,440 ($2,537/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Tensas Parish.
Is rent going up or down in Tensas Parish? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Tensas Parish decreased by 6.7% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $816 to $761.
Which jobs can afford rent in Tensas 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 $761/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Tensas Parish over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Tensas Parish went from $566 in FY 2020 to $761 in FY 2026, a total change of +34.5% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Tensas Parish? ▼
In Tensas Parish, the FY 2026 FMR of $761/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 Tensas Parish? ▼
For Tensas Parish, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($761/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.