Skip to main content
RentIndex

HUD FMR Data · Updated April 2026

Lowest Rent Burden Counties

These 50 counties have the lowest rent burden — meaning a 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent consumes the smallest share of median household income. Jefferson County, WV leads at 12.1%. Low rent burden generally signals a healthy gap between local wages and rental costs, often in regions with strong middle-income employment and modest population growth.

How to Read This Ranking

Rent burden compares the annualized cost of a 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent against median household income from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Nationally, the median household earns $71,049 and faces a 2BR FMR of $1,250/month. HUD treats rent burden above 30% as "cost burdened" and above 50% as "severely cost burdened" — these are the thresholds federal housing programs use to qualify families for assistance.

Each row links to a full county page with bedroom-by-bedroom Fair Market Rent, rent burden against the local median household income, and the underlying HUD area code. The ranking covers up to 50 counties and refreshes against HUD\'s annual fiscal-year FMR release. For the underlying HUD data, see the official HUD Fair Market Rents dataset or query the HUD FMR API.

RankCountyState2BR FMRRent Burden
1Jefferson CountyWest Virginia$1,25112.1%
2Warren CountyVirginia$1,31512.7%
3Benton CountyIowa$95613.5%
4Bremer CountyIowa$97814.1%
5Le Sueur CountyMinnesota$1,07814.3%
6Seward CountyNebraska$96714.3%
7Tooele CountyUtah$1,24114.6%
8Saunders CountyNebraska$1,08914.6%
9McHenry CountyNorth Dakota$1,00014.9%
10Wabasha CountyMinnesota$1,00115.0%
11Jones CountyIowa$91915.1%
12Jefferson CityMissouri$91015.1%
13Brown CountyOhio$1,00815.2%
14Boone CountyIowa$1,02615.4%
15Oconto CountyWisconsin$97315.4%
16Warren CountyIndiana$95615.4%
17Union CountyOhio$1,43315.7%
18Grady CountyOklahoma$1,00415.9%
19Grant CountyArkansas$96816.0%
20Macoupin CountyIllinois$91616.0%
21Wise CountyTexas$1,20516.1%
22Lincoln CountyNorth Carolina$1,05416.1%
23Putnam CountyWest Virginia$1,05416.2%
24Lancaster CountySouth Carolina$1,01116.2%
25Washington CountyIowa$96216.2%
26Fillmore CountyMinnesota$1,02216.3%
27Green CountyWisconsin$1,09716.4%
28Rock CountyMinnesota$97316.5%
29Shelby CountyKentucky$1,14316.6%
30Lampasas CountyTexas$1,06716.6%
31Franklin CountyVirginia$94416.6%
32Cedar RapidsIowa$1,07116.7%
33Rappahannock CountyVirginia$1,37516.8%
34BismarckNorth Dakota$1,17516.8%
35Iowa CountyWisconsin$1,16816.8%
36Franklin CountyIndiana$1,11716.8%
37Bosque CountyTexas$97316.8%
38Vernon CountyWisconsin$97316.8%
39Howard CountyNebraska$1,04916.9%
40Monroe CountyGeorgia$1,17417.0%
41Sioux FallsSouth Dakota$1,15617.0%
42Tipton CountyIndiana$1,10917.0%
43Renville CountyNorth Dakota$1,08117.0%
44DubuqueIowa$1,07717.0%
45Cooper CountyMissouri$95817.0%
46Moniteau CountyMissouri$92217.0%
47Wells CountyIndiana$99117.1%
48St. James ParishLouisiana$92117.1%
49Custer CountySouth Dakota$1,17317.2%
50Callaway CountyMissouri$1,04217.2%

Methodology Notes

Rent burden uses HUD's 2-bedroom FMR (annualized) divided by Census Bureau median household income for the county. Counties with very small rental populations are excluded because the FMR sample becomes unreliable. Burden figures lag rent figures by 12-18 months because the Census Bureau publishes ACS income tables on a delayed schedule.

For the full step-by-step calculation, including how HUD ages ACS base rents using BLS CPI rent indexes and how rent burden is paired with Census income data, see the RentIndex methodology page. We do not adjust HUD\'s figures; the rents and rent-burden calculations on this page reflect federal published data exactly as released.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does low rent burden mean?

Low rent burden means rent consumes a small share of typical household income — generally a sign that local wages outpace housing costs. HUD considers anything below 30% to be unburdened.

Which county has the lowest rent burden?

Jefferson County, WV posts the lowest burden on this list at 12.1% — meaning a household earning the local median spends only that share of income on a 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent.

Why is rent burden so low in some areas?

Low-burden counties typically combine moderate FMR with strong middle-income employment — often centered on manufacturing, energy, agriculture, or government. The math works because wages have kept pace with (or outpaced) rent for an extended period.

Does low rent burden mean it's a good place to live?

Not on its own. Rent burden is one input among many: job market, schools, climate, and amenities all factor into a relocation decision. Low burden tells you the rent-to-income math works for the median household, not whether the area suits you personally.

How is rent burden calculated?

Annual 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent (HUD) divided by median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimates), expressed as a percentage. The full methodology is on the methodology page.

Other Rankings

Most Expensive Counties by RentMost Affordable Counties by RentHighest Rent Burden CountiesBiggest Rent Increases by CountyBiggest Rent Decreases by County

Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Fair Market Rents — public domain; huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr.html. Income figures: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Last refreshed April 2026.