State FMR profile · HUD FY2026

Fair Market Rents in Arkansas

The average 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent across Arkansas is $751/mo - 22% below the US average.

$751
Avg 1BR FMR
75
Counties
7
Metro areas

The verdict

Arkansas's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent averages $944 - 20% below the US average, the 3rd lowest of 51 states.

Arkansas's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom averages $944, 20% below the US average - the 3rd lowest of 51 states. A household needs about $37,760 in annual income to afford it under HUD's 30% affordability rule, and rents vary 72% between the state's cheapest and priciest counties.

#3
most affordable of 51 states (2BR)
-20%
vs the US 2-bedroom average
$37,760
income to afford it (30% rule)
72%
gap, cheapest→priciest county

Arkansas ranks 49th priciest but 25th of 51 by rent GROWTH (+4.8% YoY) - a comparatively affordable state getting notably more expensive, worth watching.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents for 75 counties and 7 metro areas in AR. Verify with HUD →

What these rents mean for Arkansas

Across Arkansas's 75 counties and 7 metro areas, HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent averages $751/mo for a 1-bedroom (studio through 4-bedroom averages are broken out below). FMR is set at the county or metro FMR area level, not statewide, so that figure is the arithmetic average of every FMR area inside AR, weighted equally. Local housing authorities use each county's or metro's FMR (not the state average) to calibrate Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards, typically ranging from 90% to 110% of FMR.

Benchmarked against the rest of the country, Arkansas's average 1-bedroom FMR of $751 is 22% below the US average of $959. Inside the state, rents are not uniform - the cheapest 1-bedroom FMR is in Ashley County at $671, while the most expensive is in Crittenden County at $1,154, a spread of roughly 72% between the lowest- and highest-cost counties. That intra-state dispersion is why urban voucher recipients, families relocating for jobs, and landlords setting Section 8 rents all need to check the specific FMR area rather than rely on a statewide figure.

For affordability, the 30% rule implies a household income of $30,040 per year (about $2,503/month) to afford Arkansas's average 1-bedroom at $751. With a state population of 3,032,651 and median household income of $58,773, a significant share of Arkansas renters fall above the 30% cost-burden threshold in higher-FMR counties. Pair these rent figures with Arkansas's rent burden rankings and year-over-year rent growth pages to see which counties are tightening fastest and which remain comparatively affordable.

Where Arkansas sits among all 50 states + DC

Average 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. every US state

$944 higher than 4% of 51 states

$900–$1,000: 11 states (22%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000–$1,100: 7 states (14%). Above this entry. $1,100–$1,200: 8 states (16%). Above this entry. $1,200–$1,300: 2 states (4%). Above this entry. $1,300–$1,400: 3 states (6%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,500: 8 states (16%). Above this entry. $1,500–$1,600: 3 states (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,700: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $1,700–$1,800: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $1,800–$1,900: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $1,900–$2,000: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,100: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $2,100–$2,200: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,300: 2 states (4%). Above this entry. $2,300–$2,400: 0 states (0%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,500: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. AR $900 $2,500 every US state, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.1K-wide band; taller bars hold more states. 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

State Average vs National Average

Studio
$700
-22% vs US avg
1 BR
$751
-22% vs US avg
2 BR
$944
-20% vs US avg
3 BR
$1,239
-19% vs US avg
4 BR
$1,406
-20% vs US avg

Most expensive counties in Arkansas by 1-bedroom FMR

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent, the highest-cost 10 of 75 AR counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Inside AR, 1-bedroom FMR runs from $671 in Ashley County to $1,154 in Crittenden County.

Source HUD Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau ACS data As of FY2026

Cheapest Counties

Lowest FMR rental costs →

Most Expensive Counties

Highest FMR rental costs →

Rent Burden

% of income spent on rent →

Rent Growth

YoY rent trends by county →

Metro areas in Arkansas

Each metro FMR area applies one rent schedule across all its counties, ranked here by 1-bedroom FMR.

# Metro area Studio1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BR
1 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA $1,007
$1,115
$1,347$1,873$2,213
2 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR HUD Metro FMR Area $984
$989
$1,147$1,540$1,822
3 Jonesboro, AR HUD Metro FMR Area $805
$870
$1,040$1,402$1,480
4 Hot Springs, AR MSA $829
$834
$1,090$1,393$1,670
5 Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA $683
$714
$937$1,266$1,532
6 Little River County, AR HUD Metro FMR Area $666
$671
$880$1,166$1,170
7 Pine Bluff, AR MSA -
-
---

Counties in Arkansas, ranked by rent (75)

All 75 counties with a published FY2026 Fair Market Rent, highest 1-bedroom first.

75 of 75
# County Studio1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BR
1 Crittenden County $1,060
$1,154
$1,274$1,683$1,959
2 Benton County $1,007
$1,115
$1,347$1,873$2,213
3 Madison County $1,007
$1,115
$1,347$1,873$2,213
4 Washington County $1,007
$1,115
$1,347$1,873$2,213
5 Faulkner County $984
$989
$1,147$1,540$1,822
6 Lonoke County $984
$989
$1,147$1,540$1,822
7 Perry County $984
$989
$1,147$1,540$1,822
8 Pulaski County $984
$989
$1,147$1,540$1,822
9 Saline County $984
$989
$1,147$1,540$1,822
10 Craighead County $805
$870
$1,040$1,402$1,480
11 Miller County $859
$868
$1,101$1,369$1,657
12 Garland County $829
$834
$1,090$1,393$1,670
13 Logan County $607
$803
$880$1,224$1,362
14 Montgomery County $630
$803
$880$1,096$1,240
15 Newton County $614
$803
$880$1,055$1,476
16 Pike County $630
$803
$880$1,224$1,274
17 Woodruff County $630
$803
$880$1,157$1,240
18 Grant County $795
$800
$968$1,226$1,539
19 Greene County $648
$772
$905$1,259$1,492
20 Calhoun County $724
$771
$1,011$1,212$1,425
21 Fulton County $630
$746
$880$1,145$1,321
22 Carroll County $658
$742
$954$1,144$1,345
23 Baxter County $730
$735
$964$1,274$1,276
24 Cleburne County $684
$735
$955$1,228$1,295
25 White County $630
$734
$880$1,149$1,165
26 Clark County $730
$731
$880$1,221$1,356
27 Jefferson County $697
$728
$937$1,224$1,241
28 Union County $714
$718
$923$1,111$1,301
29 Izard County $630
$715
$880$1,202$1,476
30 Pope County $647
$715
$938$1,254$1,258
31 Crawford County $683
$714
$937$1,266$1,532
32 Sebastian County $683
$714
$937$1,266$1,532
33 Bradley County $630
$710
$880$1,212$1,476
34 Drew County $664
$706
$927$1,224$1,227
35 Arkansas County $670
$703
$922$1,159$1,547
36 Polk County $642
$703
$897$1,076$1,188
37 St. Francis County $661
$703
$923$1,161$1,310
38 Nevada County $652
$694
$911$1,092$1,284
39 Ouachita County $630
$694
$880$1,133$1,240
40 Stone County $651
$693
$909$1,264$1,281
41 Hempstead County $650
$692
$908$1,188$1,404
42 Marion County $650
$692
$908$1,132$1,280
43 Yell County $687
$692
$880$1,224$1,358
44 Columbia County $647
$688
$903$1,191$1,196
45 Independence County $684
$688
$891$1,175$1,180
46 Poinsett County $681
$685
$880$1,161$1,165
47 Randolph County $630
$681
$880$1,224$1,282
48 Johnson County $633
$674
$884$1,083$1,246
49 Howard County $632
$673
$883$1,059$1,272
50 Ashley County $666
$671
$880$1,055$1,476
51 Boone County $607
$671
$880$1,224$1,343
52 Chicot County $630
$671
$880$1,150$1,282
53 Clay County $658
$671
$880$1,191$1,240
54 Cleveland County $630
$671
$880$1,055$1,240
55 Conway County $607
$671
$880$1,224$1,448
56 Cross County $630
$671
$880$1,224$1,476
57 Dallas County $630
$671
$880$1,207$1,240
58 Desha County $630
$671
$880$1,208$1,476
59 Franklin County $666
$671
$880$1,094$1,476
60 Hot Spring County $613
$671
$880$1,155$1,282
61 Jackson County $630
$671
$880$1,055$1,165
62 Lafayette County $630
$671
$880$1,055$1,240
63 Lawrence County $630
$671
$880$1,089$1,375
64 Lee County $630
$671
$880$1,224$1,240
65 Lincoln County $630
$671
$880$1,224$1,240
66 Little River County $666
$671
$880$1,166$1,170
67 Mississippi County $624
$671
$880$1,161$1,165
68 Monroe County $660
$671
$880$1,055$1,240
69 Phillips County $630
$671
$880$1,224$1,407
70 Prairie County $630
$671
$880$1,150$1,240
71 Scott County $630
$671
$880$1,159$1,240
72 Searcy County $630
$671
$880$1,224$1,240
73 Sevier County $666
$671
$880$1,097$1,210
74 Sharp County $659
$671
$880$1,224$1,432
75 Van Buren County $630
$671
$880$1,186$1,240

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Arkansas? ▼
The average FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Arkansas is $751 per month. A 2-bedroom averages $944.
How does Arkansas rent compare to the national average? ▼
Arkansas rents are 22% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here averages $751 vs $959 nationally.
Where is the cheapest rent in Arkansas? ▼
The most affordable county is Ashley County with a 1-bedroom FMR of $671. The most expensive is Crittenden County at $1,154.
What income do I need to afford rent in Arkansas? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need at least $30,040/year ($2,503/month) to afford the average 1-bedroom FMR in Arkansas.

Explore Arkansas rent data

Rent burden → Rent growth → Cheapest counties → Most expensive counties → National rent-burden rankings → Affordability calculator →

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

What this means for renters

Treat Arkansas's FY2026 average Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.

  • Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 average 1-bedroom FMR of $751 implies about $30,040/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
  • Arkansas's counties vary widely around this average -- compare specific counties before assuming this figure applies to yours. View county rankings
  • See where Arkansas ranks nationally on rent. National rankings

Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. This is a state-level average across 75 counties; actual asking rents in any specific county can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.

Related

Browse all counties → | Rankings →
Data sourced from HUD Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau ACS data. See our methodology for details. Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rent data (huduser.gov). Median household income and homeownership rate: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (census.gov/programs-surveys/acs).

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.