Arkansas · FIPS 05061 · HUD FY 2027
Howard County, Arkansas Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Howard County is $909 a month (rent plus utilities), 14% below the Arkansas average of $1,061 and 48% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $26 (2.9%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $36,360 a year to afford it.
- $9092-bedroom FMR+$26 (+2.9%) vs FY 2026
- $6951-bedroom FMRArkansas: $873 · U.S.: $1,478
- $36,360Income for a 2-bedroom$17/hour full-time
- 33 of 752BR rank in Arkansas1 = highest rent
| Unit | Howard County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $646 | $632 | +$14 (+2.2%) | $818 | $1,379 | $25,840 |
| 1 bedroom | $695 | $673 | +$22 (+3.3%) | $873 | $1,478 | $27,800 |
| 2 bedrooms | $909 | $883 | +$26 (+2.9%) | $1,061 | $1,761 | $36,360 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,084 | $1,059 | +$25 (+2.4%) | $1,414 | $2,266 | $43,360 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,195 | $1,272 | −$77 (−6.1%) | $1,639 | $2,607 | $47,800 |
How Howard County compares
- Howard County is a non-metro county, so HUD sets one Fair Market Rent for the whole county.
- Across Arkansas, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $909 (Yell County) to $1,301 (Crittenden County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $646, $695, $909, $1,084, $1,195. HUD derives the other sizes from the 2-bedroom figure with fixed ratios, adjusted where local data warrant.
- HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area FMRs. For the 5 ZIP codes mostly in Howard County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $910 to $1,000.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Howard County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71831 | $720 | $830 | $990 | $1,260 | $1,360 | +$30 (+3.1%) | 9% above |
| 71833 | $650 | $690 | $910 | $1,080 | $1,190 | +$30 (+3.4%) | about the same as |
| 71851 | $710 | $760 | $1,000 | $1,190 | $1,310 | +$10 (+1.0%) | 10% above |
| 71852 | $650 | $730 | $910 | $1,110 | $1,270 | +$30 (+3.4%) | about the same as |
| 71971 | $650 | $760 | $910 | $1,160 | $1,250 | −$40 (−4.2%) | about the same as |
Sources
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD User Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 FMRs (file dated August 26, 2026) and FY 2026 FMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- HUD User Small Area Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 SAFMRs (file dated August 31, 2026) and FY 2026 SAFMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- ZIP-to-county assignment: Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA-to-county relationship file (file dated December 9, 2021), largest land-area overlap.
Fair Market Rents are HUD’s estimate of gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a modest unit, set at the 40th percentile of recent-mover rents. FY 2027 is HUD’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. Housing authorities set voucher payment standards from these figures; check yours.