County FMR · HUD FY2026

Tunica County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Tunica County, MS - 12% above the US average.

$1,073
1-bedroom FMR
$1,186
2-bedroom FMR
-2.3%
YoY change
+12%
vs US avg

The verdict

Tunica is the 7th most expensive of 82 counties in Mississippi by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,038 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#1,038
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#7
most expensive of 82 in Mississippi (2BR)
+37%
vs the state average
$42,920
income to afford it (30% rule)

General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (14.6%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (59.1%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Tunica County, MS. Verify with HUD →

Tunica County, Mississippi carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,073 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,186/mo and a studio is $986/mo. That's 12% above the national benchmark of $959 and 37% above the Mississippi average of $782.

Rent decreased2.3% from FY 2025 ($1,098), declining against the trend. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $42,920/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 53.0% of the 2,132 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 Mississippi. Population: 9,787. Population declined 5.7% 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 Mississippi's statewide growth of -1.2% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area TUNICA·COUNTY·MS·MS

Tunica County, MS: $1,073/mo 1BR · #1038 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA MS
  • 1BR-FMR $1,073
  • 2BR-FMR $1,186
  • RANK-MID #1,038
  • YOY-DOWN -2.3%
  • VSUS-ABOVE +12%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +37% MS
  • INC-EDGE 34%
  • POP-SMALL 10K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Hinds County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $966–$1,180
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Hinds ($24 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $751 · US avg: $893
$986/mo
↓ 1.3% YoY +31% vs state +10% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $782 · US avg: $959
$1,073/mo
↓ 2.3% YoY +37% vs state +12% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $924 · US avg: $1,175
$1,186/mo
↓ 3.9% YoY +28% vs state +1% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,177 · US avg: $1,525
$1,422/mo
↓ 4.4% YoY +21% vs state -7% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,295 · US avg: $1,756
$1,570/mo
↓ 4.0% YoY +21% vs state -11% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $999
$986
$-13 (-1.3%)
1 Bedroom $1,098
$1,073
$-25 (-2.3%)
2 Bedroom $1,234
$1,186
$-48 (-3.9%)
3 Bedroom $1,487
$1,422
$-65 (-4.4%)
4 Bedroom $1,636
$1,570
$-66 (-4.0%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
30.8%
Burdened
Need $39,440/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
33.5%
Burdened
Need $42,920/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
37.1%
Burdened
Need $47,440/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
44.4%
Burdened
Need $56,880/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
49.1%
Burdened
Need $62,800/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%37.1%
Tunica County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $38,402 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Mississippi rent burden →

Where Tunica sits among every US county

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

$1,186 Top 33% higher than 67% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Tunica compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Mississippi counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Tunica is highlighted. Nearby Mississippi counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: DeSoto County ($1,154), Hinds County ($1,097), Rankin County ($1,097), Madison County ($1,097), Tunica County (this county) ($1,073), Jackson County ($951), Harrison County ($923).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,073/mo compares to Mississippi salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation MS Salary Rent Burden Verdict
General & Operations Managers $88,290 14.6% Affordable
Software Developers $86,460 14.9% Affordable
Registered Nurses $74,470 17.3% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $64,170 20.1% Affordable
Electricians $57,300 22.5% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,700 25.4% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $48,440 26.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $45,610 28.2% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $39,120 32.9% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $38,210 33.7% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $35,580 36.2% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $27,810 46.3% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $27,610 46.6% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $22,280 57.8% Unaffordable
Teaching Assistants $21,790 59.1% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Mississippi) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Tunica (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 55.1% overall, from $692 to $1,073. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 24.6% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$600$700$800$900$1,000$1,100$1,200 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,073
Tunica County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓2.3% $986 $1,073 $1,186
FY 2025 ↑8.0% $999 $1,098 $1,234
FY 2024 ↑24.6% $940 $1,017 $1,191
FY 2023 ↑12.2% $811 $816 $946
FY 2022 ↑1.8% $629 $727 $828
FY 2021 ↑3.2% $698 $714 $814
FY 2020 $673 $692 $788
Total change (6yr): +55.1%
Annualized: +7.6%/yr
1 BR: $692 → $1,073

Part of the Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area

Tunica County is a outlying county of the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan statistical area, alongside 8 other metro-area counties.

Tunica County ranks #6 of 9 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Shelby County ($1,154), DeSoto County ($1,154), Tipton County ($1,154), Crittenden County ($1,154), Fayette County ($1,154), Tunica County (this county) ($1,073), Marshall County ($846), Tate County ($830), Benton County ($768).

Shelby County
1 BR: $1,154/mo
DeSoto County
1 BR: $1,154/mo
Tipton County
1 BR: $1,154/mo
Crittenden County
1 BR: $1,154/mo
Fayette County
1 BR: $1,154/mo
Tunica County (this county)
1 BR: $1,073/mo
Marshall County
1 BR: $846/mo
Tate County
1 BR: $830/mo
Benton County
1 BR: $768/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Tunica County, both outside Mississippi 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 MS (FY2026).

Brazos County
TX · 2 BR $1,186/mo
Jerome County
ID · 2 BR $1,186/mo
Burleson County
TX · 2 BR $1,186/mo
Robertson County
TX · 2 BR $1,186/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Brooks County
TX · 37.3% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Hudson County
NJ · 36.8% of income · 2 BR $2,763/mo
Clayton County
GA · 37.3% of income · 2 BR $1,820/mo
Jeff Davis County
TX · 37.3% of income · 2 BR $1,015/mo

Nearby Counties in Mississippi

Largest counties by population in Mississippi

Showing the 8 largest of 81 other counties in Mississippi.

Hinds County
1 BR: $1,097/mo Pop: 226,541
Harrison County
1 BR: $923/mo Pop: 208,748
DeSoto County
1 BR: $1,154/mo Pop: 186,214
Rankin County
1 BR: $1,097/mo Pop: 157,185
Jackson County
1 BR: $951/mo Pop: 143,721
Madison County
1 BR: $1,097/mo Pop: 109,257
Lee County
1 BR: $852/mo Pop: 83,343
Forrest County
1 BR: $888/mo Pop: 77,917
View all counties in Mississippi →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Tunica County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Tunica County is $1,073 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,186 and a studio is $986.
How does Tunica County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Tunica County is 12% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,073 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Tunica County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Tunica County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,186 ranks #1,038 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Tunica County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $42,920 ($3,577/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Tunica County.
Is rent going up or down in Tunica County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Tunica County decreased by 2.3% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,098 to $1,073.
Which jobs can afford rent in Tunica County? ▼
Based on Mississippi BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like General and Operations Managers, Software Developers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,073/mo. 8 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Tunica County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Tunica County went from $692 in FY 2020 to $1,073 in FY 2026, a total change of +55.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Tunica County? ▼
In Tunica County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,073/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 Tunica County? ▼
For Tunica County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,073/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.