The full explanation
HUD uses it to set the payment standards of the Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8) and for other programs; on aquitucasa we use it as the benchmark for what renting costs in your county and for the wage needed to pay it.
An example
Sandra is looking for a two-bedroom apartment. Her county's fair market rent tells her what a normal price is in the area and helps her spot a suspiciously cheap listing.
With real numbers
Computed with official data for the whole U.S. In your county the numbers may differ.
- Fair rent, 2 bedrooms (average)
- $1,750
- Hourly wage to stay under 30%
- $33.65
Averaging every county by its population, the fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,750 a month. To pay it without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $33.65 an hour working full time.
Computed with: Fair Market Rents (HUD) (FY2027) · American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
In numbers: fair market rent
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms): the national figure and some of the 52 states, from highest to lowest, with the same source and the same date.
- Nationwide
- $1,750
| State | Figure | vs. US |
|---|---|---|
| California | $2,632 | +50% |
| Virginia | $1,792 | +2.4% |
| Utah | $1,493 | −15% |
| Missouri | $1,250 | −29% |
| Puerto Rico | $641 | −63% |
If a document mentions "fair market rent", think of these figures: in California it is $2,632; in Puerto Rico, $641; nationwide, $1,750.
Sources: Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027)
Where you see it on the site
You will see it in…
- Your county and state pages, under “Rent”
- HUD's annual FMR tables by area and bedroom size
- Your housing authority's payment standard if you hold a voucher
