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Jonesboro, AR

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Jonesboro, AR is $1,040 per month, ranking #554 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $55,478, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 22.5% of income on housing. Rent in Jonesboro has increased 11.1% year over year. The area has a population of 135K, with 40% of households renting.

22.5%
Moderately Affordable
of income → rent
$1,040
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$55,478
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$907
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+11.1%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
135K
Population
Census ACS
40%
Renters
of occupied housing
$181,200
Median Home Value
10.3%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
19.2%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$805
Studio
$870
1 Bedroom
$1,040
2 Bedroom
$1,402
3 Bedroom
$1,480
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 Jonesboro, AR, a household earning the area median income of $55,478 would spend 22.5% 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
$41,600
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$20
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$907
$133 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+28.2% since 2021
$8112021$8322022$8402023$9362024$9732025$1,0402026

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

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Arkansas is $11.00/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 72.7 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 Jonesboro is 19.2%, near the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$11.00/hr
Hours/Week Needed
72.7 hrs
Poverty Rate
19.2%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Jonesboro is $181,200. At a median income of $55,478, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 3.3x. 10.3% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is near the national average.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,268 est. mortgage
vs $1,040 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
10.3%
of housing units

Other Areas in Arkansas

Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
$1,347/mo
2BR FMR · 20.7% burden
Memphis
$1,274/mo
2BR FMR · 23.6% burden
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
$1,147/mo
2BR FMR · 21.1% burden
Texarkana
$1,101/mo
2BR FMR · 24% burden
Hot Springs
$1,090/mo
2BR FMR · 23.6% burden

Compare Jonesboro

vs Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, ARvs Memphis, ARvs Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR

Areas With Similar Rent to Jonesboro

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Jonesboro, AR is $1,040 per month. A studio is $805/mo, a 1-bedroom is $870/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,402/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $907/mo.

Jonesboro has a rent burden of 22.5%, meaning a household earning the median income of $55,478 would spend 22.5% 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 $41,600.

Jonesboro's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,040/mo is $210 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Jonesboro ranks #554 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Jonesboro without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $41,600, or a full-time hourly wage of $20/hour. The area median income is $55,478.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Jonesboro 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.