County FMR · HUD FY2026

Union County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Union County, AR - 25% below the US average.

$718
1-bedroom FMR
$923
2-bedroom FMR
+0.6%
YoY change
-25%
vs US avg

The verdict

Union is the 23rd most expensive of 75 counties in Arkansas by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #567 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.

#567
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#23
most expensive of 75 in Arkansas (2BR)
-4%
vs the state average
$28,720
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 (32.2%); 14 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Arkansas counties range as much as 56% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Union County, AR. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Union County, Arkansas at $718 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $923/mo and a studio is $714/mo. This is 25% lower than the national average of $959 and 4% below the Arkansas average of $751.

Rent increased0.6% from FY 2025 ($714), roughly tracking inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $28,720/year.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Arkansas. Population: 38,815. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-3.4%, Census ACS). That's slower than Arkansas's statewide growth of +1.4% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area UNION·COUNTY·AR·AR

Union County, AR: $718/mo 1BR · #567 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA AR
  • 1BR-FMR $718
  • 2BR-FMR $923
  • RANK-MID #567
  • YOY-FLAT +0.6%
  • VSUS-LOW -25%
  • VS-ST-NEAR -4% AR
  • INC-ROOM 17%
  • POP-SMALL 39K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Pulaski County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $646–$790
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Pulaski ($271 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $700 · US avg: $893
$714/mo
↑ 0.7% YoY +2% vs state -20% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $751 · US avg: $959
$718/mo
↑ 0.6% YoY -4% vs state -25% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $944 · US avg: $1,175
$923/mo
↑ 2.2% YoY -2% vs state -21% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,239 · US avg: $1,525
$1,111/mo
↓ 3.1% YoY -10% vs state -27% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,406 · US avg: $1,756
$1,301/mo
↑ 2.4% YoY -7% vs state -26% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $709
$714
+$5 (+0.7%)
1 Bedroom $714
$718
+$4 (+0.6%)
2 Bedroom $903
$923
+$20 (+2.2%)
3 Bedroom $1,146
$1,111
$-35 (-3.1%)
4 Bedroom $1,270
$1,301
+$31 (+2.4%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
17.1%
Affordable
Need $28,560/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
17.2%
Affordable
Need $28,720/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
22.1%
Affordable
Need $36,920/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
26.5%
Affordable
Need $44,440/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
31.1%
Burdened
Need $52,040/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%22.1%
Union County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $50,221 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Arkansas rent burden →

Where Union sits among every US county

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

$923 higher than 18% 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 Union compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Arkansas counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Union is highlighted. Nearby Arkansas counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Benton County ($1,115), Washington County ($1,115), Pulaski County ($989), Faulkner County ($989), Saline County ($989), Union County (this county) ($718), Sebastian County ($714).

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 $718/mo, most of these Arkansas occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation AR Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $96,820 8.9% Affordable
Registered Nurses $77,130 11.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $64,260 13.4% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $64,180 13.4% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $50,550 17% Affordable
Electricians $49,420 17.4% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,520 17.4% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $48,090 17.9% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $46,940 18.4% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $37,380 23% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $37,490 23% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $29,540 29.2% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $29,420 29.3% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $29,270 29.4% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $26,740 32.2% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Arkansas) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Union (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 29.4% overall, from $555 to $718. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 8.4% (FY 2024).

$500$550$600$650$700$750 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $718
Union County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑0.6% $714 $718 $923
FY 2025 ↑2.6% $709 $714 $903
FY 2024 ↑8.4% $692 $696 $864
FY 2023 ↑8.1% $638 $642 $764
FY 2022 ↑0.8% $586 $594 $680
FY 2021 ↑6.1% $575 $589 $671
FY 2020 $539 $555 $632
Total change (6yr): +29.4%
Annualized: +4.4%/yr
1 BR: $555 → $718

Part of the El Dorado, AR Micro Area

Union County is a central county of the El Dorado, AR micropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Union County, both outside Arkansas 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 AR (FY2026).

Stone County
MO · 2 BR $923/mo
Vernon County
MO · 2 BR $923/mo
Walthall County
MS · 2 BR $923/mo
Ransom County
ND · 2 BR $923/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Mecklenburg County
VA · 22.1% of income · 2 BR $950/mo
Sullivan County
TN · 22.1% of income · 2 BR $1,044/mo
Pierce County
GA · 22.1% of income · 2 BR $1,042/mo
Simpson County
KY · 22.1% of income · 2 BR $1,055/mo

Nearby Counties in Arkansas

Largest counties by population in Arkansas

Showing the 8 largest of 74 other counties in Arkansas.

Pulaski County
1 BR: $989/mo Pop: 398,322
Benton County
1 BR: $1,115/mo Pop: 286,528
Washington County
1 BR: $1,115/mo Pop: 247,331
Sebastian County
1 BR: $714/mo Pop: 128,184
Faulkner County
1 BR: $989/mo Pop: 124,611
Saline County
1 BR: $989/mo Pop: 123,988
Craighead County
1 BR: $870/mo Pop: 111,038
Garland County
1 BR: $834/mo Pop: 100,021
View all counties in Arkansas →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Union County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Union County is $718 per month. A 2-bedroom is $923 and a studio is $714.
How does Union County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Union County is 25% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $718 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Union County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Union County's 2-bedroom FMR of $923 ranks #567 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 Union County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $28,720 ($2,393/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Union County.
Is rent going up or down in Union County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Union County increased by 0.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $714 to $718.
Which jobs can afford rent in Union County? ▼
Based on Arkansas BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $718/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Union County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Union County went from $555 in FY 2020 to $718 in FY 2026, a total change of +29.4% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Union County? ▼
In Union County, the FY 2026 FMR of $718/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 Union County? ▼
For Union County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($718/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.