CostBy County

Counties with the Highest Median Gross-Rent-to-Income Percentages

By the CostByCounty Editorial Team · Published May 2, 2026 · Updated July 9, 2026

ACS B25071 reports the median gross rent as a percentage of household income among renter-occupied units. It is not the percentage of renter households that cross a burden threshold.

The 25 Counties Where Renters Are Most Burdened

RankCountyStateRent BurdenMedian RentMedian Income
1Hancock CountyGeorgia51.0%$938/mo$40,082
2West Feliciana ParishLouisiana51.0%$1,049/mo$77,452
3Esmeralda CountyNevada51.0%$1,320/mo$41,715
4Eureka CountyNevada51.0%$969/mo$70,473
5Webster CountyWest Virginia51.0%$709/mo$43,839
6Buchanan CountyVirginia50.0%$743/mo$42,886
7Wahkiakum CountyWashington50.0%$853/mo$62,653
8Noxubee CountyMississippi46.2%$677/mo$33,833
9Nevada CountyArkansas45.9%$869/mo$53,886
10Watauga CountyNorth Carolina45.9%$1,127/mo$51,693
11Montgomery CountyMississippi45.6%$734/mo$41,748
12Sterling CountyTexas45.4%$952/mo$64,954
13East Carroll ParishLouisiana45.3%$652/mo$33,341
14Clarke CountyVirginia44.9%$1,371/mo$117,111
15Hamilton CountyFlorida44.6%$724/mo$50,144
16Lincoln ParishLouisiana44.6%$825/mo$39,172
17Mason CountyIllinois43.5%$802/mo$62,845
18Caldwell ParishLouisiana42.8%$830/mo$47,028
19De Baca CountyNew Mexico42.7%$387/moN/A
20Broadwater CountyMontana42.5%$955/mo$70,374
21Williamsburg cityVirginia42.3%$1,407/mo$75,604
22Catahoula ParishLouisiana42.2%$821/mo$50,275
23Brown CountyNebraska41.5%$876/mo$54,676
24Martin CountyKentucky41.1%$450/mo$37,042
25Webster ParishLouisiana40.9%$795/mo$41,182

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.