Counties with the Lowest Median Rent

While national attention focuses on skyrocketing rents in major cities, hundreds of counties across America offer rental housing for under $600 per month — sometimes far less. For remote workers, retirees, and budget-conscious families, these counties represent genuine opportunity.

We identified the 25 US counties with the lowest median gross rent. But low rent is only part of the story: we also show median income to help you understand whether these low rents represent affordability or simply reflect depressed local economies.

The 25 Counties with the Lowest Median Rent

Ranked by median gross rent from lowest to highest.

The Tradeoff: Low Rent vs Economic Opportunity

The counties with the lowest rents often have limited local employment options. A $400/month apartment is only a bargain if you have income to pay for it. Remote workers earning coastal salaries can arbitrage these low rents spectacularly. For those dependent on local jobs, the low wages may offset the rent savings.

Look at the income-to-rent ratios in the table above. Counties with ratios above 6x offer genuine affordability regardless of local wages. Counties with ratios below 4x may have low rents, but they also have even lower incomes.

Methodology

All data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Median gross rent is table B25064. Counties with suppressed or missing data were excluded.