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Rusk County, TX

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Rusk County, TX is $1,175 per month, ranking #412 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $67,506, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 20.9% of income on housing. Rent in Rusk County has increased 16.2% year over year. The area has a population of 53K, with 20% of households renting.

20.9%
Moderately Affordable
of income → rent
$1,175
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$67,506
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$997
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+16.2%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
53K
Population
Census ACS
20%
Renters
of occupied housing
$166,900
Median Home Value
4%
Unemployment
BLS LAUS
15.5%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
14.3%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$890
Studio
$895
1 Bedroom
$1,175
2 Bedroom
$1,451
3 Bedroom
$1,606
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 Rusk County, TX, a household earning the area median income of $67,506 would spend 20.9% 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
$47,000
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$23
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$997
$178 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+55.8% since 2021
$7542021$8452022$9172023$1,0112024$1,1022025$1,1752026

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

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Texas is $7.25/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 124.7 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 Rusk County is 14.3%, near the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$7.25/hr
Hours/Week Needed
124.7 hrs
Poverty Rate
14.3%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Rusk County is $166,900. At a median income of $67,506, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 2.5x. 15.5% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is above the national average and may indicate softer demand or seasonal housing. The local unemployment rate is 4%, below the national average, indicating a relatively strong local labor market.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,168 est. mortgage
vs $1,175 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
15.5%
of housing units
Unemployment
4%
BLS, latest available

Other Areas in Texas

Dallas
$1,931/mo
2BR FMR · 26.6% burden
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
$1,852/mo
2BR FMR · 22.8% burden
Midland
$1,780/mo
2BR FMR · 22.9% burden
Martin County
$1,772/mo
2BR FMR · 27.6% burden
Fort Worth-Arlington
$1,723/mo
2BR FMR · 23.7% burden

Compare Rusk County

vs Dallas, TXvs Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TXvs Midland, TX

Areas With Similar Rent to Rusk County

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Rusk County, TX is $1,175 per month. A studio is $890/mo, a 1-bedroom is $895/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,451/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $997/mo.

Rusk County has a rent burden of 20.9%, meaning a household earning the median income of $67,506 would spend 20.9% 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 $47,000.

Rusk County's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,175/mo is $75 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Rusk County ranks #412 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Rusk County without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $47,000, or a full-time hourly wage of $23/hour. The area median income is $67,506.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Rusk County increased by 16.2% 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.