Rents are 3% below what Hot Springs's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $1,189 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: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Hot Springs is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2022.
Rent in Hot Springs changed +4.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 24 Arkansas cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.7%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($47,760) is $1,194 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,000); a 3-bedroom is $1,265.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Hot Springs. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Hot Springs, AR is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 34.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Hot Springs, AR has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in Hot Springs, AR has increased by $238 per month, settling near $1,189 after starting the period at $951. On the earnings side, the typical household in Hot Springs, AR now reports about $47,760, up from $42,718 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 13.2 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 38,050 to 16,327 between 2021 and 2024, a 57.1% change. About 12.4% of households rent today, against 44.5% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 22.7% to 34.7%. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Hot Springs, AR reflects that arc in its own way.
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At $1,189/mo, how Hot Springs rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Hot Springs rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Hot Springs. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Hot Springs
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Hot Springs is $1,189/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $770/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,000/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $775/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,265/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($47,760/yr), Hot Springs ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Hot Springs?
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Hot Springs?
At $1,189/mo, rent takes ~30% of Hot Springs's median household income ($47,760/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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