CostBy County

Counties with the Lowest Median Rents

By the CostByCounty Editorial Team · Published February 19, 2026 · Updated July 9, 2026

This table ranks counties by median gross rent in the ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. A low county median is a housing-cost observation, not a claim about total living costs or suitability.

The 25 Most Affordable Counties in America

RankCountyStateMedian RentMedian Home ValueMedian Income
1Cottle CountyTexas$264/mo$59,300$59,063
2Issaquena CountyMississippi$339/mo$110,800$31,429
3Sheridan CountyNorth Dakota$373/mo$110,300$62,639
4Hardin CountyIllinois$379/mo$103,800$54,271
5Worth CountyMissouri$381/mo$96,600$47,847
6Schuyler CountyMissouri$382/mo$137,500$61,205
7Greene CountyAlabama$432/mo$81,200$29,200
8Elliott CountyKentucky$432/mo$123,500$45,776
9Jackson CountySouth Dakota$442/mo$117,300$35,417
10Sioux CountyNorth Dakota$444/mo$85,400$42,083
11Owsley CountyKentucky$448/mo$80,100$22,188
12Jefferson CountyMississippi$448/mo$81,300$38,305
13Presidio CountyTexas$448/mo$121,300$43,802
14Pope CountyIllinois$449/mo$143,800$60,050
15Martin CountyKentucky$450/mo$86,900$37,042
16Calhoun CountyWest Virginia$473/mo$100,500$43,980
17Garfield CountyNebraska$490/mo$176,600$62,804
18Judith Basin CountyMontana$495/mo$238,300$59,000
19Corson CountySouth Dakota$496/mo$69,800$46,406
20Wolfe CountyKentucky$501/mo$75,800$30,417
21Rolette CountyNorth Dakota$505/mo$103,800$59,517
22Hayes CountyNebraska$508/mo$128,100$69,250
23Clinch CountyGeorgia$509/mo$84,400$45,847
24Wheeler CountyNebraska$509/mo$146,500$70,250
25Scotland CountyMissouri$511/mo$158,800$68,913

Methodology and limitations

Figures use the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. County rankings describe this one statistical release; they do not measure current listings, price changes, market causes, or future conditions.

State and regional figures shown here are unweighted means of county estimates, not official household-weighted statewide medians. Use the linked county reports and Census source tables to verify each observation.

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). All figures are estimates based on survey data and may not reflect current market conditions.