Rents in the United States hit a record high in April, according to real estate listing site Realtor.com, with rents rising 16.7% compared to the previous year. In contrast, over the previous five years, gross rents increased by 18.1%.
Rising housing costs have put a serious squeeze on the millions of Americans, typically younger ones, who already cannot afford to own a home. Many of those who are already being affected by inflation are likely looking to live in places with more affordable rentals.
To determine the counties with the lowest rent, 24/7 Wall St. ranked county and county equivalents by five-year estimates of median gross rent from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. The median gross rent across the United States is $1,096, and in these 50 counties, it ranges from $518 to as low as $375.
In roughly 80% of the places where rents are lower, a relatively small share of housing units are occupied by renters, rather than homeowners. In Leslie County, Kentucky, which has a median gross rent of $491, 14.7% of housing units are rentals, compared to 35.6% of all U.S. housing units. Renting is so uncommon in areas with cheap rentals largely because these places often also have cheaper home values, allowing more residents to own a home.
In more expensive housing markets, many residents are priced out of owning homes. All 50 of the places on this list have a lower typical home value than the U.S. median of $229,800. This includes Todd County, South Dakota, where the typical home is worth $26,600, the lowest median home value of any county in the country. This is the income you need to be in the top 1% in every state.
Broadly speaking, housing costs reflect the income levels of the population living there. Housing costs tend to be more expensive in wealthier communities, while places with high levels of poverty tend to have cheaper housing. Kentucky has the most counties on this list, with eight, followed by Georgia and Mississippi, with four each. Almost two-thirds of the 50 counties or county equivalents are in the South, and all are some of the poorest parts of the country. All but one have lower median household incomes compared to the national figure. The typical monthly U.S. household income is $5,416. In Wolfe County, Kentucky, which has the second-lowest median gross rent, at $390, the typical household has a monthly income of $1,858. This is the poorest town in every state.
But even when accounting for these lower incomes, most of the counties are more affordable than much of the country. Nationwide, the annual median gross rent is equivalent to 29.6% of household income. In 33 of the 50 counties on this list, median rent accounts for a smaller share of income. In Greenlee County, Arizona, that figure comes to less than 10% of the typical household income. These are the states with the lowest and highest rent.
Click here to see the counties with the lowest rents
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. Pulaski County, Illinois
> Median monthly rental cost: $518
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 24.5% — 529th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 25.4% — 1,076th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Median home value: $61,300 — 18th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
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49. Clay County, West Virginia
> Median monthly rental cost: $517
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 36.4% — 55th highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 21.6% — 504th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $86,100 — 270th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
48. Wayne County, Tennessee
> Median monthly rental cost: $516
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 21.9% — 171st lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 21.4% — 474th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $109,100 — 768th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
47. Green County, Kentucky
> Median monthly rental cost: $515
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 26.8% — 1,072nd lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 27.8% — 1,293rd highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $80,600 — 164th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
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46. Lafayette County, Arkansas
> Median monthly rental cost: $513
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 37.8% — 26th highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 21.8% — 528th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $60,800 — 17th lowest of 2,761 counties
45. Zapata County, Texas
> Median monthly rental cost: $513
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 35.3% — 93rd highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 29.9% — 1,022nd highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $88,700 — 328th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
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44. Johnson County, Georgia
> Median monthly rental cost: $513
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 32.8% — 217th highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 29.1% — 1,127th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $68,900 — 53rd lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
43. Wilcox County, Georgia
> Median monthly rental cost: $513
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 27.1% — 1,159th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 23.4% — 769th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $62,000 — 24th lowest of 2,761 counties
42. Clinton County, Kentucky
> Median monthly rental cost: $511
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 21.5% — 133rd lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 30.1% — 979th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $77,900 — 126th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
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41. Clinch County, Georgia
> Median monthly rental cost: $509
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 25.9% — 841st lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 21.2% — 444th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $71,800 — 70th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
40. Knott County, Kentucky
> Median monthly rental cost: $509
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 24.8% — 599th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 26.8% — 1,306th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $52,300 — 6th lowest of 2,761 counties
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39. Monroe County, Arkansas
> Median monthly rental cost: $508
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 30.2% — 583rd highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 38.2% — 303rd highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $73,500 — 76th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
38. Holmes County, Mississippi
> Median monthly rental cost: $508
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 28.9% — 941st highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 41.0% — 212th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $58,600 — 14th lowest of 2,761 counties
37. Chariton County, Missouri
> Median monthly rental cost: $504
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 23.1% — 311th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 22.7% — 660th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $100,700 — 577th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
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36. Roane County, West Virginia
> Median monthly rental cost: $501
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 30.3% — 550th highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 23.9% — 829th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $97,900 — 521st lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
35. Harrison County, Missouri
> Median monthly rental cost: $500
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 30.1% — 605th highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 31.2% — 847th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $75,300 — 91st lowest of 2,761 counties
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34. Knox County, Nebraska
> Median monthly rental cost: $500
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 19.9% — 70th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 25.9% — 1,153rd lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $92,300 — 406th lowest of 2,761 counties
33. Attala County, Mississippi
> Median monthly rental cost: $496
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 41.0% — 8th highest of 2,761 counties
> Rental occupied housing units: 26.6% — 1,265th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $88,700 — 328th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
32. Union County, New Mexico
> Median monthly rental cost: $496
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 23.5% — 351st lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 37.4% — 355th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $93,800 — 434th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
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31. Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota
> Median monthly rental cost: $495
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 23.3% — 330th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 50.4% — 45th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $35,000 — 2nd lowest of 2,761 counties
30. Wright County, Missouri
> Median monthly rental cost: $493
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 31.0% — 440th highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 24.2% — 899th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $109,100 — 768th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
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29. Leslie County, Kentucky
> Median monthly rental cost: $491
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 32.6% — 228th highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 14.7% — 34th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $69,000 — 55th lowest of 2,761 counties
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28. Lewis County, Kentucky
> Median monthly rental cost: $491
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 29.1% — 877th highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 23.2% — 733rd lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $68,300 — 50th lowest of 2,761 counties
27. Benton County, Mississippi
> Median monthly rental cost: $490
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 18.9% — 32nd lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 19.1% — 229th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $82,800 — 203rd lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
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26. Jefferson County, Oklahoma
> Median monthly rental cost: $483
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 28.1% — 1,216th highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 24.7% — 961st lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $64,800 — 34th lowest of 2,761 counties
25. Clay County, Alabama
> Median monthly rental cost: $482
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 25.2% — 688th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 23.4% — 757th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $116,100 — 935th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
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24. Glacier County, Montana
> Median monthly rental cost: $482
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 22.6% — 254th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 38.3% — 302nd highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $106,400 — 702nd lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
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23. Calhoun County, West Virginia
> Median monthly rental cost: $480
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 23.0% — 298th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 19.9% — 308th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $100,800 — 579th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
22. Corson County, South Dakota
> Median monthly rental cost: $480
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 20.0% — 76th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 44.4% — 125th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $55,600 — 12th lowest of 2,761 counties
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21. Atkinson County, Georgia
> Median monthly rental cost: $478
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 24.1% — 446th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 28.6% — 1,195th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $63,400 — 28th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
20. Gogebic County, Michigan
> Median monthly rental cost: $476
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 26.6% — 1,020th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 22.4% — 614th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $73,500 — 76th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
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19. Bienville Parish, Louisiana
> Median monthly rental cost: $474
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 30.6% — 505th highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 29.6% — 1,056th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $73,700 — 80th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
18. Breathitt County, Kentucky
> Median monthly rental cost: $473
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 35.0% — 97th highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 28.3% — 1,238th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $53,000 — 8th lowest of 2,761 counties
17. Pushmataha County, Oklahoma
> Median monthly rental cost: $472
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 29.7% — 688th highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 25.5% — 1,090th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $84,000 — 228th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
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16. Hancock County, Tennessee
> Median monthly rental cost: $472
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 27.9% — 1,290th highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 22.5% — 626th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $99,800 — 563rd lowest of 2,761 counties
15. Hardeman County, Texas
> Median monthly rental cost: $472
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 21.8% — 161st lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 30.7% — 911th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $53,100 — 9th lowest of 2,761 counties
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14. Pickens County, Alabama
> Median monthly rental cost: $468
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 30.2% — 583rd highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 24.1% — 863rd lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $100,000 — 568th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
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13. Greenlee County, Arizona
> Median monthly rental cost: $468
> Share of income typically spent on rent: less than 10% — the lowest of 2,761 counties
> Rental occupied housing units: 49.0% — 58th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $91,800 — 392nd lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
12. Cumberland County, Kentucky
> Median monthly rental cost: $467
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 23.2% — 322nd lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 27.7% — 1,315th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $110,000 — 794th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
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11. Gallatin County, Illinois
> Median monthly rental cost: $460
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 28.6% — 1,052nd highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 23.0% — 693rd lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $76,400 — 105th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
10. Todd County, South Dakota
> Median monthly rental cost: $458
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 22.0% — 180th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 53.0% — 36th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $26,600 — the lowest of 2,761 counties
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9. Washington County, Kansas
> Median monthly rental cost: $450
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 16.7% — 8th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 22.6% — 631st lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $84,100 — 231st lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
8. Lamar County, Alabama
> Median monthly rental cost: $449
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 31.0% — 440th highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 27.2% — 1,365th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $95,400 — 469th lowest of 2,761 counties
7. Benson County, North Dakota
> Median monthly rental cost: $443
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 19.8% — 64th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 27.7% — 1,322nd highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $79,800 — 153rd lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
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6. Carroll County, Mississippi
> Median monthly rental cost: $440
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 35.8% — 73rd highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 16.0% — 69th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $93,800 — 434th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
5. Sioux County, North Dakota
> Median monthly rental cost: $430
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 13.9% — 2nd lowest of 2,761 counties
> Rental occupied housing units: 51.3% — 42nd highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $83,300 — 213th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
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4. Rolette County, North Dakota
> Median monthly rental cost: $423
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 19.4% — 47th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 28.5% — 1,214th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $85,600 — 254th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
3. Presidio County, Texas
> Median monthly rental cost: $397
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 24.5% — 529th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 46.0% — 96th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $77,200 — 117th lowest of 2,761 counties (tied)
2. Wolfe County, Kentucky
> Median monthly rental cost: $390
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 35.8% — 73rd highest of 2,761 counties (tied)
> Rental occupied housing units: 37.2% — 370th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $66,300 — 38th lowest of 2,761 counties
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1. Chouteau County, Montana
> Median monthly rental cost: $375
> Share of income typically spent on rent: 17.6% — 15th lowest of 2,761 counties
> Rental occupied housing units: 33.9% — 588th highest of 2,761 counties
> Median home value: $155,700 — 1,111th highest of 2,761 counties
Methodology
To determine the counties with the lowest rent, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of median gross rent from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey.
Counties were excluded if median gross rent was not available in the 2020 ACS, if there were fewer than 500 renter-occupied housing units, or if the sampling error associated with a county’s data was deemed too high.
The sampling error was defined as too high if the coefficient of variation — a statistical assessment of how reliable an estimate is — for a county’s median gross rent was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all counties’ median gross rents. We similarly excluded counties that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.
Counties were ranked based on the median gross rent. To break ties, we used the median gross rent as a share of household income.
Additional information on median gross rent as a share of household income, share of households occupied by renters, and median home value are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS.
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