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Renting · Section 8

Data from November 2026

Renting in Clarke County, Georgia

Clarke County has a HUD fair market rent of $1,285 a month for 2 bedrooms (Fiscal year 2027). Renter households here pay a typical rent of $1,219 a month (Average 2020–2024). Paying the fair market rent without going over 30% of income takes $24.71 an hour, full time.

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Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,285
a month, HUD, Fiscal year 2027
16% less than in Georgia
Typical rent
$1,219
a month, Census, Average 2020–2024
12% less than in Georgia
Wage needed
$24.71
an hour, 2 bedrooms
Or $51,400 a year, to spend no more than 30% of income on rent.
Rent-burdened households
60%
spend 30% or more of income on rent
14% more than in Georgia

Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates

Only here

Renting in Clarke County: what sets it apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. At 41%, Clarke County ranks 2nd among the 159 counties in Georgia for the lowest homeownership rate.

  2. Clarke County has the 7th largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 147 counties in Georgia with this figure (60%).

  3. Nearby, in Oglethorpe County, the typical rent is $913: 25% less than in Clarke County ($1,219).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

Fair market rent

What HUD sets for each size

Every year HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) publishes a Fair Market Rent (FMR) for each home size in Clarke County. It is used to work out how much a Section 8 voucher covers. The table shows what you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income.

The fair market rent covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone. HUD generally sets it at the 40th percentile: 4 in 10 standard-quality homes rented recently cost less. 24 CFR §888.113(a)

According to Zillow (ZORI), the typical asking rent in Clarke County was $1,758 a month in September 2026: 2.5% more than 12 months ago. It is an index of market listings, not a HUD limit. Zillow data

Fair market rent and wage needed To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).
Size Fair rent per month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $1,097 $21.10 $43,880
1 bedroom $1,103 $21.21 $44,120
2 bedrooms $1,285 $24.71 $51,400
3 bedrooms $1,610 $30.96 $64,400
4 bedrooms $1,689 $32.48 $67,560

HUD area: Athens-Clarke County, GA MSA. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

The fair market rent for your ZIP code

HUD also publishes fair market rents by ZIP code (Small Area FMRs) for 6 ZIP codes in Clarke County (Fiscal year 2027). Type yours to see it.

For 2 bedrooms they run from $1,220 in 30605 to $1,430 in 30601. 3 ZIP codes are above the county's fair market rent ($1,285).

Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses. 24 CFR §982.503(a)(1)

  • 30601 · Athens-Clarke County, GA $1,430$1,790
  • 30601 · Jackson County, GA $1,430$1,790
  • 30602 · Athens-Clarke County, GA $1,230$1,570
  • 30605 · Athens-Clarke County, GA $1,220$1,570
  • 30606 · Athens-Clarke County, GA $1,390$1,740
  • 30609 · Athens-Clarke County, GA $1,220$1,570

Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)

Rent burden

How many households spend too much

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Clarke County, 60% of renter households are in that position; in Georgia, 52%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).

Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.

60%

of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.

31,891 households rent in Clarke County

  • Spend half or more of their income 35%
  • Spend 30% or more, but less than half 25%
  • Spend less than 30% 40%

Compared with the state and the country

  • Clarke 60%
  • Georgia 52%
  • United States 51%

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Clarke County

HUD lists 36 properties with homes for low-income households in Clarke County: tax-credit apartments (LIHTC), HUD-assisted buildings and public housing. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest.

with tax credits (LIHTC)
15
HUD-assisted
10
public housing
11

4,478 homes in all; 2,617 of them low-income, according to HUD.

  • Bethel Chruch Home Apartments Tax credit (LIHTC) 155 Hickman Dr, Athens 30601 190 low-income homes · 1 bd: 30 · 2 bd: 85 · 3 bd: 75 · In service since 2001
  • Nellie B Apts Public housing 210 Zebulon Dr, Athens 30601 173 low-income homes · Run by Athens Housing Authority · Average payment: $334 a month · Average wait: 7 months · (706) 425-5400
  • Scattered Sites Public housing 301 Towne View Pl, Athens 30605 172 low-income homes · Run by Athens Housing Authority · Average payment: $458 a month · Average wait: 13 months · (706) 425-5400
  • Rolling Ridge HUD-assisted 100 Rolling Ridge Dr, Athens 30607 160 low-income homes · For older adults · (877) 478-9438
  • Broadacres Homes Public housing 1 Broadacres Ct, Athens 30606 160 homes, 155 low-income · Run by Athens Housing Authority · Average payment: $339 a month · Average wait: 17 months · (706) 425-5400
  • Parkview Homes Public housing 49 Parkview Homes, Athens 30605 157 homes, 154 low-income · Run by Athens Housing Authority · Average payment: $370 a month · Average wait: 18 months · (706) 425-5400
  • Rockspring Homes Public housing 161 Rocksprings Homes, Athens 30606 149 homes, 146 low-income · Run by Athens Housing Authority · Average payment: $412 a month · Average wait: 24 months · (706) 425-5400
  • Athens Midtown HUD-assisted 140 Hickman Dr, Athens 30601 190 homes, 143 low-income · For families · (706) 549-9194
  • Oak Hill Apartment Tax credit (LIHTC) 105 Oak Hill Dr, Athens 30601 220 homes, 132 low-income · 1 bd: 132 · In service since 1997
  • Dogwood Park Apts Tax credit (LIHTC) 198 Old Hull Rd, Athens 30601 126 low-income homes · 1 bd: 7 · 2 bd: 68 · 3 bd: 52 · In service since 1996
  • Parkview Homes Ext Public housing 208 Parkview Ext, Athens 30605 122 low-income homes · Run by Athens Housing Authority · Average payment: $459 a month · Average wait: 16 months · (706) 425-5400
  • Jessie B Denney Tower Public housing 250 W Dougherty St, Athens 30601 115 low-income homes · Run by Athens Housing Authority · Average payment: $358 a month · Average wait: 13 months · (706) 425-5400
  • Lanier Gardens HUD-assisted 801 Riverhill Dr, Athens 30606 150 homes, 107 low-income · For older adults · (706) 369-7100
  • Athens Gardens HUD-assisted 135A Coleridge Ct, Athens 30605 100 low-income homes · For families · (706) 546-0030
  • Clarke Gardens HUD-assisted 110 Carriage Ct, Athens 30605 100 low-income homes · For families · (706) 546-8923
  • Fourth Street Village Apartments Tax credit (LIHTC) 690 Fourth St, Athens 30601 118 homes, 94 low-income · 1 bd: 20 · 2 bd: 70 · 3 bd: 30 · In service since 2007
  • Pinewood Apartments HUD-assisted 288A Bailey St, Athens 30605 90 low-income homes · For families · (706) 353-8466
  • Scattered Sites Public housing 151 Hoyt St, Athens 30601 86 low-income homes · Run by Athens Housing Authority · Average payment: $393 a month · Average wait: 16 months · (706) 425-5400
  • Columbia Brookside-Phase III Public housing 1900 Summerbrook Cir, Athens 30606 138 homes, 58 low-income · Run by Athens Housing Authority · Average payment: $377 a month · Average wait: 100 months · (706) 425-5400
  • Columbia Brookside Phase II Public housing 1201 Summerbrook Cir, Athens 30606 132 homes, 53 low-income · Run by Athens Housing Authority · Average payment: $351 a month · Average wait: 80 months · (706) 425-5400
  • Athena Gardens HUD-assisted 175 Dennis Dr, Athens 30605 50 homes, 49 low-income · For older adults · (706) 354-8189
  • North Downtown Athens Phase 1 HUD-assisted 101 Madison Ave, Athens 30601 40 low-income homes · For families · (404) 874-5000
  • Columbia Brookside (Phase 1) Public housing 100 Brookside Ave, Athens 30606 100 homes, 16 low-income · Run by Athens Housing Authority · (706) 425-5400
  • Brookside Phase 2 HUD-assisted 2801 Green Ln, Athens 30606 132 homes, 15 low-income · (706) 850-9675
  • North Grove Apartments HUD-assisted 198 Old Hull Rd, Athens 30601 119 homes, 11 low-income · (706) 369-6992
  • Simmons Street Development Tax credit (LIHTC) 135 Simmons St, Athens 30601 10 low-income homes · In service since 1992
  • Oak Hill Apartment Tax credit (LIHTC) 105 Oak Hill Dr, Athens 30601 220 homes · In service since 2003
  • Bethel Church Homes Tax credit (LIHTC) 155 Hickman Dr, Athens 30601 178 homes · In service since 2002
  • Columbia Brookside III (pauldoe Redev III) Tax credit (LIHTC) 1000 Summerbrook Circle, Athens 30606 138 homes · In service since 2017
  • Pauldoe Redev 2 Tax credit (LIHTC) 570 Pauldoe St, Athens 30606 132 homes
  • Columbia Brookside II Tax credit (LIHTC) 570 Pauldoe St, Athens 30606 111 homes · In service since 2015
  • Ashton Clarke Apartments Tax credit (LIHTC) 110 Carriage Ct, Athens 30605 100 homes · In service since 2004
  • Clarke Gardens Fka Ashton Clarke Apts Tax credit (LIHTC) 110 Carriage Ct, Athens 30605 100 homes · In service since 2004
  • Columbia Senior Residences at Brookside Tax credit (LIHTC) 300 Hawthorne Ln, Athens 30606 100 homes · In service since 2014
  • Pauldoe Redevelopment Phase I Tax credit (LIHTC) 300 Hawthorne Ln, Athens 30606 100 homes · 1 bd: 72 · 2 bd: 8 · In service since 2015
  • North Grove Apartments Fka Dogwood Apts Tax credit (LIHTC) 198 Old Hull Rd, Athens 30601 In service since 2015

Source: HUD, retrieved November 6, 2026. LIHTC database, updated May 14, 2025; Assisted multifamily properties, updated October 23, 2026; Public housing developments, updated October 23, 2026.

Section 8

The Section 8 voucher in Clarke County

The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) pays part of your rent on a home you choose. Your public housing agency runs it. 1 agency serves in Clarke County. Here is what the rules say:

The rules, with their source

  1. You apply at the public housing agency. If you qualify, your name usually goes on a waiting list. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or noncitizens with eligible status as HUD defines it. HUD

  2. Generally, your family must have very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income, by family size (the middle column of the table). 24 CFR §5.603, §982.201(b)

  3. Each year, at least 75% of the families an agency admits from its list must have extremely low income (the 30% column). 24 CFR §982.201(b)(2)

  4. If the rent is below the payment standard, the family generally pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. If it is above, the family pays more. 24 CFR §982.1(a)(3)

  5. When you move in, if the rent is above the payment standard, your share cannot go over 40% of your adjusted monthly income. 24 CFR §982.508

  6. Each agency sets a payment standard for each size. Without asking HUD, it can go from 90% to 110% of the fair market rent. 24 CFR §982.503(b), (c)

Mixed-status families: how assistance is figured
HUD income limits Yearly income of the whole family, before taxes.
People Extremely low (30%) Very low (50%) Low
$21,050 $35,050 $56,100
$24,050 $40,050 $64,100
$27,320 $45,050 $72,100
$33,000 $50,050 $80,100
$38,680 $54,100 $86,550
$44,360 $58,100 $92,950
$50,040 $62,100 $99,350
$55,720 $66,100 $105,750

Area median income: $100,100. HUD income limits by family size, Fiscal year 2026. Area: Athens-Clarke County, GA MSA. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2026

How much can you earn? Check your case

Possible payment standard

  • Studio $987 – $1,207
  • 1 bedroom $993 – $1,213
  • 2 bedrooms $1,157 – $1,414
  • 3 bedrooms $1,449 – $1,771
  • 4 bedrooms $1,520 – $1,858

The range the rule allows: 90% to 110% of the county's fair market rent. Your agency publishes its own.

Housing agencies that serve this place

Housing agencies in Georgia Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Your rights as a tenant in Georgia

What Georgia law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.

See your rights, rule by rule

Compare these rules with other states →

A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.

How much can they charge for a deposit?
Up to 2 months of rent
O.C.G.A. §44-7-30.1
When must they return my deposit?
30 days
O.C.G.A. §44-7-34
If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
3 business days
O.C.G.A. §44-7-50(a)
How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
60 days
O.C.G.A. §44-7-7
  • Only a court order can remove youO.C.G.A. §44-7-14.1; §44-7-50 et seq.
  • Protection from retaliationO.C.G.A. §44-7-24

Help

Where to get help with rent in Clarke County

These HUD-approved agencies have offices in Clarke County. They counsel for free or at low cost.

  • Athens Land Trust, Inc

    685 N Pope St, Athens

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (706) 613-0122

  • Hancock Community Development Corporation

    300 Henderson Ext, Athens

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    (877) 284-4326

Rental assistance programs

The ones that serve in Clarke County or the whole state, with what each page says about being open.

See every agency in Georgia Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Tool

How much cash do you need to move in?

It starts with the 2-bedroom fair market rent in Clarke County. Change the rent, the deposit and the fees to yours: the numbers stay in your browser.

Count power on top of the rent: in Georgia, the average home bill was $151 a month in 2024 (EIA). See electricity and gas costs

Open the full tool

Your move

We use the place's fair market rent and the state's deposit rule.

Adjust advanced details
Deposit and rent in advance
The deposit, in

Let's do the math

Cash to move in

$2,570

What you need before you get the keys.

What adds up

First month
$1,285
Security deposit
$1,285
Total
$2,570

The deposit cap

Pick your state to see whether its law caps the deposit.

Compare each state's rules →

When you'll have it

Enter what you can set aside each month to see how long it takes.

What helps

  • Ask for a receipt for every payment and keep a copy of the lease.
  • On move-in day, walk through the home and take dated photos.
  • Never send money for a home you haven't seen or a lease you haven't read.
Guide: the security depositGuide: avoiding rental scamsFamily budgetHow much rent can I afford?

This is a planning estimate, not a price. What you are asked for depends on the landlord, your lease and your state's and city's rules. It is not legal advice.

Guides

Before you sign

Frequently asked questions

What is the fair market rent in Clarke County?

According to HUD (Fiscal year 2027): Studio: $1,097; 1 bedroom: $1,103; 2 bedrooms: $1,285; 3 bedrooms: $1,610; 4 bedrooms: $1,689. It covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone.

How much do you need to earn to rent in Clarke County?

Paying the 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,285) without spending more than 30% of income takes $24.71 an hour full time, or $51,400 a year.

Who qualifies for Section 8 in Clarke County?

Generally, families with very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income. For 4 people, HUD's limit here is $50,050 a year (Fiscal year 2026). The family usually pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. You apply at the housing agency.

How much does Section 8 pay in Clarke County?

The voucher pays up to your housing agency's payment standard, minus your share. The rule lets the agency set it between 90% and 110% of the fair market rent: for 2 bedrooms here, between $1,157 and $1,414 a month. Your agency publishes its figure.

Does the fair market rent change by ZIP code in Clarke County?

For 2 bedrooms they run from $1,220 in 30605 to $1,430 in 30601. Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses.

How many low-income apartments are there in Clarke County?

HUD lists 36 properties with homes for low-income households in Clarke County: tax-credit apartments (LIHTC), HUD-assisted buildings and public housing. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest. For tax-credit apartments and HUD-assisted buildings, you apply directly at the building's management office. They tell you whether units are open and how to apply; HUD does not have that information.

How many households spend too much on rent in Clarke County?

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Clarke County, 60% of renter households are in that position; in Georgia, 52%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).