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Joplin, MO

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Joplin, MO is $947 per month, ranking #650 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $60,146, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 18.9% of income on housing. Rent in Joplin has increased 2.6% year over year. The area has a population of 202K, with 32% of households renting.

18.9%
Affordable
of income → rent
$947
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$60,146
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$872
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+2.6%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
202K
Population
Census ACS
32%
Renters
of occupied housing
$157,000
Median Home Value
10.8%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
16.4%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$760
Studio
$765
1 Bedroom
$947
2 Bedroom
$1,237
3 Bedroom
$1,285
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 Joplin, MO, a household earning the area median income of $60,146 would spend 18.9% 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
$37,880
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$18
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$872
$75 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+20.9% since 2021
$7832021$7652022$8212023$9232024$1,0362025$9472026

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 53 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 Joplin is 16.4%, near the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$13.75/hr
Hours/Week Needed
53 hrs
Poverty Rate
16.4%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Joplin is $157,000. At a median income of $60,146, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 2.6x. 10.8% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is near the national average.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,099 est. mortgage
vs $947 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
10.8%
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 Joplin

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

Areas With Similar Rent to Joplin

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Joplin, MO is $947 per month. A studio is $760/mo, a 1-bedroom is $765/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,237/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $872/mo.

Joplin has a rent burden of 18.9%, meaning a household earning the median income of $60,146 would spend 18.9% 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 $37,880.

Joplin's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $947/mo is $303 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Joplin ranks #650 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Joplin without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $37,880, or a full-time hourly wage of $18/hour. The area median income is $60,146.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Joplin increased by 2.6% compared to the prior year. This is a modest increase, roughly in line with typical housing cost trends.

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.