Rents are 15% below what Jonesboro'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 $1,640 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
January. Asking rents in Jonesboro usually run 0.8% below trend in January and 0.8% above it in August, about $26 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Jonesboro is 0% below its high of $1,640 in August 2026, at $1,640 as of September 2026.
Rent in Jonesboro changed +1.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 115 Georgia cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.3%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Jonesboro rose 59.6% while median household income rose 47.7% ($34,418 to $50,843). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Jonesboro is 56.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
30% of the median household income ($50,843) is $1,271 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,400).
Forest Park, 7 miles away, rents for 25% less ($1,226/mo), about $5,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Jonesboro. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Jonesboro, GA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 12.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Jonesboro, GA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Jonesboro, GA stood at $1,234 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,640, reflecting a 32.9% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $31,033 to $50,843 across the same window, up 63.8% versus 2021. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 36.8% since 2021, moving from about 4,492 residents to roughly 6,143. Renters now make up 52.8% of households, compared with 69.1% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 12.3% of adults here, versus 4.5% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Jonesboro, GA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Jonesboro on your salary?
At $1,640/mo, how Jonesboro rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Jonesboro rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Jonesboro. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Jonesboro
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Jonesboro is $1,640/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,400/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,610/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,450/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,940/mo.
At 39% of local median household income ($50,843/yr), Jonesboro ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Jonesboro?
At $1,640/mo, rent takes ~39% of Jonesboro's median household income ($50,843/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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