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Jefferson City, MO

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Jefferson City, MO is $910 per month, ranking #674 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $72,425, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 15.1% of income on housing. Rent in Jefferson City has increased 10.4% year over year. The area has a population of 150K, with 27.8% of households renting.

15.1%
Affordable
of income → rent
$910
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$72,425
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$804
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+10.4%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
150K
Population
Census ACS
27.8%
Renters
of occupied housing
$203,900
Median Home Value
10.4%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
10.1%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$689
Studio
$694
1 Bedroom
$910
2 Bedroom
$1,266
3 Bedroom
$1,379
4 Bedroom

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality units in an area. FMRs are used to determine payment standards for the Housing Choice Voucher program and other federal housing assistance.

Housing Affordability

In Jefferson City, MO, a household earning the area median income of $72,425 would spend 15.1% of their gross income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This falls below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, meaning housing is relatively affordable for median-income households in this area.

Income Needed for 2BR
$36,400
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$18
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$804
$106 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+34.2% since 2021
$6782021$6942022$7482023$8242024$8912025$9102026

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent by fiscal year. Source: HUD FMR API.

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Missouri is $13.75/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 50.9 hours per week to afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding 30% of income on housing. This means a single minimum-wage earner cannot afford a 2-bedroom working a standard 40-hour week. The poverty rate in Jefferson City is 10.1%, below the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$13.75/hr
Hours/Week Needed
50.9 hrs
Poverty Rate
10.1%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Jefferson City is $203,900. At a median income of $72,425, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 2.8x. 10.4% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is near the national average.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,427 est. mortgage
vs $910 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
10.4%
of housing units

Other Areas in Missouri

Kansas City
$1,358/mo
2BR FMR · 19.9% burden
St. Louis
$1,218/mo
2BR FMR · 18.7% burden
Columbia
$1,160/mo
2BR FMR · 20% burden
Springfield
$1,095/mo
2BR FMR · 21.4% burden
St. Joseph
$1,077/mo
2BR FMR · 20.5% burden

Compare Jefferson City

vs Kansas City, MOvs St. Louis, MOvs Columbia, MO

Areas With Similar Rent to Jefferson City

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Jefferson City, MO is $910 per month. A studio is $689/mo, a 1-bedroom is $694/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,266/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $804/mo.

Jefferson City has a rent burden of 15.1%, meaning a household earning the median income of $72,425 would spend 15.1% of income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This is below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, indicating relatively affordable housing. To afford a 2-bedroom without being cost-burdened, a household would need an annual income of at least $36,400.

Jefferson City's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $910/mo is $340 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Jefferson City ranks #674 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Jefferson City without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $36,400, or a full-time hourly wage of $18/hour. The area median income is $72,425.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Jefferson City increased by 10.4% compared to the prior year. This is a significant increase, suggesting growing demand in the local housing market.

Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality rental units. Rent burden is calculated as annual 2BR FMR divided by area median household income. Census data (income, home value, population, vacancy) is from the ACS 5-Year estimates. Unemployment rates are from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.