Rents are right about where Fort Smith's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,060 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Fort Smith, AR is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 23.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Fort Smith, AR has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Fort Smith, AR has shifted from $762 to $1,060, up 39.1% since 2021. Census figures show median household income at $54,816 today, compared with $48,033 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. The renter share has eased from 48.3% to 46.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Fort Smith on your salary?
At $1,060/mo, how Fort Smith rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Fort Smith rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Fort Smith. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Fort Smith
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Fort Smith is $1,060/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $726/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $958/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $728/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,304/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($54,816/yr), Fort Smith ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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What percentage of Fort Smith residents rent vs. own?
How does Fort Smith rent compare to the national average?
At $1,060/mo, rent takes ~23% of Fort Smith's median household income ($54,816/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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