County FMR · HUD FY2026

Androscoggin County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Androscoggin County, ME - 27% above the US average.

$1,218
1-bedroom FMR
$1,586
2-bedroom FMR
+22.5%
YoY change
+27%
vs US avg

The verdict

Androscoggin is the 3rd most expensive of 16 counties in Maine by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 22.5% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#3
most expensive of 16 in Maine (2BR)
+6%
vs the state average
$48,720
income to afford it (30% rule)
+22.5%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (12.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (42.5%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Androscoggin County, ME. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Androscoggin County, Maine at $1,218 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,586/mo and a studio is $1,140/mo. This is 27% higher than the national average of $959 and 6% above the Maine average of $1,153.

Rent increased22.5% from FY 2025 ($994), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $48,720/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Maine. Population: 24,294. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+4.5%, Census ACS). That's in line with Maine's statewide growth of +3.3% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Androscoggin County

The Androscoggin County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Maine's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.

Androscoggin County's 1-bedroom rent runs 27% above the US average of $959 and 6% higher than the Maine state average of $1,153. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$994 in FY 2025 to $1,218 in FY 2026 - a change of +22.5%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,218, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $48,720 per year (about $4,060/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,586 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 24,294 and a county median household income of $67,298, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,080 · US avg: $893
$1,140/mo
↑ 26.9% YoY +6% vs state +28% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,153 · US avg: $959
$1,218/mo
↑ 22.5% YoY +6% vs state +27% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,448 · US avg: $1,175
$1,586/mo
↑ 25.1% YoY +10% vs state +35% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,917 · US avg: $1,525
$2,050/mo
↑ 23.3% YoY +7% vs state +34% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,133 · US avg: $1,756
$2,305/mo
↑ 24.9% YoY +8% vs state +31% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $898
$1,140
+$242 (+26.9%)
1 Bedroom $994
$1,218
+$224 (+22.5%)
2 Bedroom $1,268
$1,586
+$318 (+25.1%)
3 Bedroom $1,663
$2,050
+$387 (+23.3%)
4 Bedroom $1,845
$2,305
+$460 (+24.9%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$48,720
$4,060/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$63,440
$5,287/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Androscoggin County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
20.3%
Affordable
Need $45,600/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
21.7%
Affordable
Need $48,720/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
28.3%
Affordable
Need $63,440/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
36.6%
Burdened
Need $82,000/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
41.1%
Burdened
Need $92,200/yr for 30% rule
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.

Androscoggin County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%28.3%
Androscoggin County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $67,298 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Maine rent burden →

Where Androscoggin sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,586 Top 13% higher than 87% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). This entry sits in this band. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

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 Androscoggin compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Maine counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Androscoggin is highlighted. Nearby Maine counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: York County ($1,412), Cumberland County ($1,397), Knox County ($1,270), Androscoggin County (this county) ($1,218), Waldo County ($1,163), Kennebec County ($1,090), Somerset County ($1,083).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,218/mo compares to Maine salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation ME Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $113,800 12.8% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $96,740 15.1% Affordable
Registered Nurses $82,860 17.6% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,680 18.8% Affordable
Electricians $67,820 21.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $65,330 22.4% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $62,300 23.5% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $58,510 25% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $51,930 28.1% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $45,240 32.3% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $43,870 33.3% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $40,950 35.7% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $38,560 37.9% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $36,460 40.1% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $34,360 42.5% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Maine) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Androscoggin County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Androscoggin (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 85.1% overall, from $658 to $1,218. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +22.5% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$800$1,000$1,200$1,400 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,218
Androscoggin County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑22.5% $1,140 $1,218 $1,586
FY 2025 ↑13.3% $898 $994 $1,268
FY 2024 ↑5.2% $756 $877 $1,111
FY 2023 ↑6.8% $747 $834 $1,060
FY 2022 ↑6.0% $717 $781 $999
FY 2021 ↑12.0% $685 $737 $947
FY 2020 $613 $658 $844
Total change (6yr): +85.1%
Annualized: +10.8%/yr
1 BR: $658 → $1,218

Part of the Lewiston-Auburn, ME Metro Area

Androscoggin County is a central county of the Lewiston-Auburn, ME metropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in Maine

Largest counties by population in Maine

Waldo County
1 BR: $1,163/mo Pop: 6,985
York County
1 BR: $1,412/mo Pop: 2,695
Somerset County
1 BR: $1,083/mo Pop: 2,570
Kennebec County
1 BR: $1,090/mo Pop: 2,358
Knox County
1 BR: $1,270/mo Pop: 1,502
Cumberland County
1 BR: $1,397/mo Pop: 1,178
Washington County
1 BR: $954/mo Pop: 1,077
Lincoln County
1 BR: $1,280/mo Pop: 829
View all counties in Maine →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Androscoggin County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Androscoggin County is $1,218 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,586 and a studio is $1,140.
How does Androscoggin County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Androscoggin County is 27% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,218 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Androscoggin County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $48,720 ($4,060/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Androscoggin County.
Is rent going up or down in Androscoggin County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Androscoggin County increased by 22.5% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $994 to $1,218.
Which jobs can afford rent in Androscoggin County? ▼
Based on Maine BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,218/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Androscoggin County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Androscoggin County went from $658 in FY 2020 to $1,218 in FY 2026, a total change of +85.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Androscoggin County? ▼
In Androscoggin County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,218/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Androscoggin County? ▼
For Androscoggin County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,218/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Androscoggin'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 $1,218 implies about $48,720/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 Androscoggin 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.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

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.