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Jackson, MS

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Jackson, MS is $1,288 per month, ranking #311 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $60,489, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 25.6% of income on housing. Rent in Jackson has increased 11.1% year over year. The area has a population of 616K, with 32.5% of households renting.

25.6%
Moderately Affordable
of income → rent
$1,288
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$60,489
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$1,034
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+11.1%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
616K
Population
Census ACS
32.5%
Renters
of occupied housing
$188,500
Median Home Value
12.6%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
17.4%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$1,091
Studio
$1,097
1 Bedroom
$1,288
2 Bedroom
$1,544
3 Bedroom
$1,705
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 Jackson, MS, a household earning the area median income of $60,489 would spend 25.6% 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
$51,520
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$25
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$1,034
$254 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+38.2% since 2021
$9322021$9472022$1,0592023$1,1592024$1,2322025$1,2882026

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

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Mississippi is $7.25/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 136.7 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 Jackson is 17.4%, near the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$7.25/hr
Hours/Week Needed
136.7 hrs
Poverty Rate
17.4%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Jackson is $188,500. At a median income of $60,489, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 3.1x. 12.6% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is above the national average and may indicate softer demand or seasonal housing.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,320 est. mortgage
vs $1,288 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
12.6%
of housing units

Other Areas in Mississippi

Memphis
$1,274/mo
2BR FMR · 23.6% burden
Tunica County
$1,186/mo
2BR FMR · 37.1% burden
Gulfport-Biloxi
$1,140/mo
2BR FMR · 22.3% burden
Marshall County
$1,110/mo
2BR FMR · 25.7% burden
Tate County
$1,089/mo
2BR FMR · 20.4% burden

Compare Jackson

vs Memphis, MSvs Tunica County, MSvs Gulfport-Biloxi, MS

Areas With Similar Rent to Jackson

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Jackson, MS is $1,288 per month. A studio is $1,091/mo, a 1-bedroom is $1,097/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,544/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $1,034/mo.

Jackson has a rent burden of 25.6%, meaning a household earning the median income of $60,489 would spend 25.6% 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 $51,520.

Jackson's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,288/mo is $38 above the national median of $1,250/mo. Jackson ranks #311 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Jackson without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $51,520, or a full-time hourly wage of $25/hour. The area median income is $60,489.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Jackson increased by 11.1% 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.