To better understand Poston's rental market dynamics, it's crucial to examine related demographic and economic factors. The city's population has seen a general decline over the past decade, dropping from 1,642 in 2013 to 1,082 in 2022. This population decrease could potentially contribute to reduced housing demand, thereby influencing rental prices. Additionally, the population density has fallen from 1,194 people per square mile in 2013 to 787 in 2022, further indicating a trend of outmigration or demographic shifts.

The percentage of renter-occupied housing units in Poston has seen a significant increase, rising from 40.66% in 2013 to 67.07% in 2022. This substantial shift towards a rental-dominated housing market could be influencing the overall rental prices, possibly due to increased supply or changes in local housing policies. Conversely, the percentage of owner-occupied housing has decreased from 59.17% in 2013 to 32.93% in 2022, aligning with the increase in renter occupancy.

Poston's median income has also experienced fluctuations, potentially impacting rental affordability. The median income decreased from $30,508 in 2013 to $24,293 in 2022, representing a significant drop in purchasing power for residents. This decline in income could be a contributing factor to the low median rent, as it may reflect a reduced ability of residents to afford higher rental prices.

The employment-to-population ratio in Poston has shown a slight decline, from 58.5% in 2013 to 46.9% in 2022. This decrease in employment rates could be influencing the local economy and, by extension, the rental market. Lower employment rates might lead to reduced demand for housing or an inability to sustain higher rental prices.

Poston's demographic composition also provides insight into its unique housing market. In 2022, the city's population was predominantly Native American (46.86%) and Hispanic (39.00%), with smaller percentages of White (11.92%) and mixed-race (2.22%) residents. This diverse ethnic composition, particularly the high percentage of Native American residents, may play a role in shaping local housing policies and community dynamics that influence rental prices.

In conclusion, Poston's distinction as the Arizona city with the lowest median rent in 2022 is the result of a complex interplay of factors. The dramatic decrease in median rent to $100 per month represents a significant shift from previous years and stands in stark contrast to broader trends in Arizona's housing market. This low rental rate coincides with a declining population, shifting demographics, decreasing median income, and changes in housing occupancy patterns. While the exact causality between these factors and the low median rent cannot be definitively established without further data, they provide a contextual framework for understanding Poston's unique position in Arizona's rental landscape. This situation presents an opportunity for further study into the dynamics of rural housing markets and the factors that contribute to extreme affordability in certain locales.