County FMR · HUD FY2026
Albany County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Albany County, WY - 18% below the US average.
- $786
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $963
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -2.7%
- YoY change
- -18%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Albany is the 1st cheapest of 23 counties in Wyoming by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #944 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #944
- most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #1
- cheapest of 23 in Wyoming (2BR)
- -5%
- vs the state average
- $31,440
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (33.4%); 14 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Albany County, WY. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Albany County, Wyoming is $786 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $963/mo and a studio is $709/mo. This is 18% lower than the national average of $959 and 5% below the Wyoming average of $824.
Rent decreased2.7% from FY 2025 ($808), declining against the trend. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $31,440/year.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Wyoming. Population: 37,525. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-1.0%, Census ACS). That's in line with Wyoming's statewide growth of -0.4% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Albany County
HUD publishes one FMR schedule per FMR area (often the county). Local housing authorities use it as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard baseline. See how FMR is calculated.
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Albany County's 2-bedroom of $963 ranks #944 most affordable of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.
This is a below-average rent market: 1-bedroom FMR is 18% under the US average of $959 and 5% below Wyoming's $824. HUD's 1-bedroom figure shifted from $808 (FY 2025) to $786 (FY 2026), a -2.7% move that deepens an already-cheap market.
A 1-bedroom at $786 needs $31,440/year under the 30% rule against a county median of $59,881, and the median household clears that line with room to spare. A 2-bedroom at $963 is the next step up.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $712 | $709 | $-3 (-0.4%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $808 | $786 | $-22 (-2.7%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $990 | $963 | $-27 (-2.7%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,387 | $1,339 | $-48 (-3.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,662 | $1,615 | $-47 (-2.8%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Albany County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Albany County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Albany sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$963 higher than 30% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Albany compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Wyoming counties
- Laramie
Laramie County
$917 1BR FMR / mo
- Campbell
Campbell County
$896 1BR FMR / mo
- Sheridan
Sheridan County
$860 1BR FMR / mo
- Sweetwater
Sweetwater County
$854 1BR FMR / mo
- Natrona
Natrona County
$852 1BR FMR / mo
- Albany
Albany County
$786 1BR FMR / mo
- Fremont
Fremont County
$753 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Albany is highlighted. Nearby Wyoming counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Laramie County ($917), Campbell County ($896), Sheridan County ($860), Sweetwater County ($854), Natrona County ($852), Albany County (this county) ($786), Fremont County ($753).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
With a below-average 1-bedroom at $786/mo, most of these Wyoming occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.
| Occupation | WY Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $112,590 | 8.4% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $94,900 | 9.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $81,790 | 11.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,400 | 12.2% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $73,450 | 12.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $65,180 | 14.5% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,560 | 15.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,270 | 15.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $49,980 | 18.9% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $46,490 | 20.3% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,360 | 24% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,580 | 26.5% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $34,410 | 27.4% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,450 | 30% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,200 | 33.4% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Albany County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Albany (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 21.9% overall, from $645 to $786. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.5% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓2.7% | $709 | $786 | $963 |
| FY 2025 ↓3.9% | $712 | $808 | $990 |
| FY 2024 ↑16.5% | $767 | $841 | $1,017 |
| FY 2023 ↑6.0% | $632 | $722 | $869 |
| FY 2022 ↑1.9% | $600 | $681 | $819 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.6% | $571 | $668 | $813 |
| FY 2020 | $571 | $645 | $799 |
Part of the Laramie, WY Micro Area
Albany County is a central county of the Laramie, WY micropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Wyoming
Largest counties by population in Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Albany County? ▼
How does Albany County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Albany County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Albany County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Albany County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Albany County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Albany County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Albany County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Albany County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Albany's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $786 implies about $31,440/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Albany can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.