HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2026 · effective Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026
Fair Market Rent in Independence County, Arkansas (FY 2026)
$891 a month. That's HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Independence County, and it's the baseline every voucher in Independence is measured against.
2 bedroom FMR
$891
FY 2026, utilities included
Payment standard range
$802 to $980
90% to 110% of FMR
Income to afford 2BR
$35,640
per year, at 30% of income
Rank in Arkansas
33rd of 75
by 2BR FMR
HUD has already published FY 2027. On October 1, 2026 the two-bedroom rate in Independence moves to $934. That's up 5%. The full FY 2027 table is in the history section below.
HUD's number is one input. What does a two-bedroom in Independence actually rent for?
Search any address in Independence for a rent estimate built from nearby comps, with the HUD figure right next to it.
FY 2026 Fair Market Rents
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard | Income needed | Hourly wage | vs FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $684 | $616 to $752 | $27,360 | $13.15/hr | +4.7% |
| 1 bedroom | $688 | $619 to $757 | $27,520 | $13.23/hr | +4.7% |
| 2 bedroom | $891 | $802 to $980 | $35,640 | $17.13/hr | +3.4% |
| 3 bedroom | $1,175 | $1,058 to $1,293 | $47,000 | $22.60/hr | +3.2% |
| 4 bedroom | $1,180 | $1,062 to $1,298 | $47,200 | $22.69/hr | +3.2% |
5 to 8 bedrooms (PropMetrics estimates)
HUD stops at four bedrooms. These add 15% of the four-bedroom rent per extra bedroom. It's our estimate, not a HUD number.
| Bedrooms | Estimated FMR | Payment standard |
|---|---|---|
| 5 bedroom Estimate | $1,357 | $1,221 to $1,493 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $1,534 | $1,381 to $1,687 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $1,711 | $1,540 to $1,882 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $1,888 | $1,699 to $2,077 |
Source: HUD Office of Policy Development and Research, FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. Rents include utilities. huduser.gov
Fair Market Rent is HUD's estimate of what a modest, decent unit rents for in an area, utilities included. It's set once a year and runs October to September. For FY 2026 that's October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. In Independence, that runs from $684 for a studio up to $1,180 for four bedrooms, all five rates in the table above.
Because Independence sits outside any HUD metro area, its rate is a county-wide figure built from local rents. One number covers every address in the county, Batesville included.
Among Arkansas's 75 counties, Independence ranks 33rd for two-bedroom FMR. That's within a couple percent of the state median of $880 and about 12% below the national median county at $1,018. About 37,910 people live here, 20th in the state.
Rates by ZIP code
Zoom in and the picture changes. HUD's Small Area FMRs put a two-bedroom at $880 in 72165 (Thida) and $1,040 in 72568 (Pleasant Plains), with the 16 ZIP codes in between. Housing authorities in HUD-designated metros use those ZIP rates instead of the county rate. Everywhere else the ZIP numbers show where rents actually sit, and the county rate stays the official standard.
| ZIP | City | 2BR rate | vs county |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72165 | Thida | $880 | -1.2% |
| 72501 | Batesville | $900 | +1.0% |
| 72503 | Batesville | $890 | -0.1% |
| 72522 | Charlotte | $880 | -1.2% |
| 72524 | Cord | $880 | -1.2% |
| 72526 | Cushman | $900 | +1.0% |
| 72527 | Desha | $900 | +1.0% |
| 72534 | Floral | $920 | +3.3% |
| 72550 | Locust Grove | $890 | -0.1% |
| 72553 | Magness | $900 | +1.0% |
| 72562 | Newark | $880 | -1.2% |
| 72564 | Oil Trough | $900 | +1.0% |
| 72568 | Pleasant Plains | $1,040 | +16.7% |
| 72571 | Rosie | $920 | +3.3% |
| 72575 | Salado | $890 | -0.1% |
| 72579 | Sulphur Rock | $880 | -1.2% |
What a voucher pays here
The voucher doesn't pay the FMR itself. It pays the payment standard. Housing authorities set it anywhere from 90% to 110% of FMR, which puts a two-bedroom standard in Independence somewhere between $802 and $980. The tenant pays roughly 30% of their income, the voucher covers the rest up to the standard, and the PHA won't approve a rent above what comparable unassisted units get.
$891 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $35,640 a year. Put another way, $17 an hour full time.
Worked example for a two-bedroom, assuming the rent equals the payment standard. Tenant pays 30% of monthly income, HUD's housing assistance payment covers the rest.
| Monthly household income | Tenant pays (30%) | HAP at 90% ($802) | HAP at 100% ($891) | HAP at 110% ($980) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $52 | $141 | $230 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went up 3% from FY 2025 ($862) to FY 2026 ($891). Since FY 2020 it's up 35% in total, about 5.1% a year. The Arkansas median moved up 4% over the same year.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2BR change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $485 | $501 | $660 | $822 | $894 | — |
| FY 2021 | $486 | $504 | $664 | $826 | $900 | +0.6% |
| FY 2022 | $481 | $493 | $649 | $823 | $880 | -2.3% |
| FY 2023 | $544 | $552 | $726 | $950 | $975 | +11.9% |
| FY 2024 | $618 | $623 | $818 | $1,087 | $1,089 | +12.7% |
| FY 2025 | $653 | $657 | $862 | $1,139 | $1,143 | +5.4% |
| FY 2026 | $684 | $688 | $891 | $1,175 | $1,180 | +3.4% |
| FY 2027 | $664 | $740 | $934 | $1,221 | $1,228 | +4.8% |
Nearby counties
Questions people ask
$891 a month for FY 2026, which runs October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The other rates are $684 for a studio, $688 for one bedroom, $1,175 for three and $1,180 for four.
Tools for this county
Fair Market Rent lookup
Look up any ZIP code's Small Area FMR by bedroom count.
Section 8 rent calculator
Work out the payment standard and tenant share for a specific rent.
What is Fair Market Rent?
How HUD calculates FMR and what it means for landlords.
Rent affordability calculator
See what income a household needs for a given rent.
What does a rental in Independence actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in Independence for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. 3 free searches, no card.
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