Rents are right about where Joplin'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 $1,173 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 Joplin is 1.9% below its high of $1,196 in April 2026, at $1,173 as of September 2026.
Rent in Joplin changed +3.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 60 Missouri cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.4%.
Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($52,097) is $1,302 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,040); a 3-bedroom is $1,335.
Pittsburg, KS, 25 miles away, rents for 23% less ($899/mo), about $3,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Joplin. 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
Joplin, MO is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 26.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Joplin, MO has changed in 5 years
Since 2023, the typical rent in Joplin, MO has climbed from $1,009 to $1,173, a 16.3% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $46,849 to $52,097 across the same window, up 11.2% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 2.0% since 2021, moving from about 51,539 residents to roughly 52,593. Renters now make up 46.6% of households, compared with 42.3% five years ago. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Joplin, MO look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Joplin on your salary?
At $1,173/mo, how Joplin rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Joplin rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Joplin. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Joplin
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Joplin is $1,173/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $835/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,040/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $835/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,335/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($52,097/yr), Joplin ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Joplin rent compare to other cities in Missouri?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Joplin?
At $1,173/mo, rent takes ~27% of Joplin's median household income ($52,097/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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