County FMR · HUD FY2026

Baca County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Baca County, CO - 20% below the US average.

$771
1-bedroom FMR
$973
2-bedroom FMR
-0.8%
YoY change
-20%
vs US avg

The verdict

Baca is the 1st cheapest of 64 counties in Colorado by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #976 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.

#976
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#1
cheapest of 64 in Colorado (2BR)
-34%
vs the state average
$30,840
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (6.9%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (29.5%); 15 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 Baca County, CO. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Baca County, Colorado at $771 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $973/mo and a studio is $746/mo. This is 20% lower than the national average of $959 and 34% below the Colorado average of $1,161.

Rent decreased0.8% from FY 2025 ($777), roughly tracking inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $30,840/year.

Observed renter burden: 30.1% of the 448 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Colorado. Population: 3,496. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.9%, Census ACS). That's slower than Colorado's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area BACA·COUNTY·CO·CO

Baca County, CO: $771/mo 1BR · #976 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA CO
  • 1BR-FMR $771
  • 2BR-FMR $973
  • RANK-MID #976
  • YOY-FLAT -0.8%
  • VSUS-BELOW -20%
  • VS-ST-LOW -34% CO
  • INC-MID 23%
  • POP-SMALL 3K
  • PHOTO-NEAR El Paso County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $694–$848
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: El Paso ($693 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,083 · US avg: $893
$746/mo
↑ 2.6% YoY -31% vs state -16% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,161 · US avg: $959
$771/mo
↓ 0.8% YoY -34% vs state -20% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,429 · US avg: $1,175
$973/mo
↑ 4.3% YoY -32% vs state -17% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,861 · US avg: $1,525
$1,353/mo
↑ 3.5% YoY -27% vs state -11% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,178 · US avg: $1,756
$1,525/mo
↑ 2.2% YoY -30% vs state -13% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $727
$746
+$19 (+2.6%)
1 Bedroom $777
$771
$-6 (-0.8%)
2 Bedroom $933
$973
+$40 (+4.3%)
3 Bedroom $1,307
$1,353
+$46 (+3.5%)
4 Bedroom $1,492
$1,525
+$33 (+2.2%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
22.2%
Affordable
Need $29,840/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
22.9%
Affordable
Need $30,840/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
28.9%
Affordable
Need $38,920/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
40.2%
Burdened
Need $54,120/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
45.3%
Burdened
Need $61,000/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.

0%100%National avg22%28.9%
Baca County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $40,380 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Colorado rent burden →

Where Baca sits among every US county

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

$973 higher than 31% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Above this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $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 Baca compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Colorado counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Baca is highlighted. Nearby Colorado counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Denver County ($1,754), Arapahoe County ($1,754), Jefferson County ($1,754), Adams County ($1,754), Douglas County ($1,754), El Paso County ($1,464), Baca County (this county) ($771).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $771/mo, most of these Colorado occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation CO Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $134,540 6.9% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $130,340 7.1% Affordable
Registered Nurses $96,520 9.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $96,100 9.6% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $90,030 10.3% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $73,380 12.6% Affordable
Electricians $62,090 14.9% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $61,550 15% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,260 15.4% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $48,070 19.2% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $46,020 20.1% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $37,270 24.8% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $36,960 25% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $35,440 26.1% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $31,390 29.5% Affordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Colorado) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Baca (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 26.6% overall, from $609 to $771. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.8% in FY 2025, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$550$600$650$700$750$800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $771
Baca County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓0.8% $746 $771 $973
FY 2025 ↑12.8% $727 $777 $933
FY 2024 ↑6.5% $684 $689 $905
FY 2023 ↑6.8% $643 $647 $826
FY 2022 ↓2.9% $602 $606 $757
FY 2021 ↑2.5% $620 $624 $734
FY 2020 $606 $609 $714
Total change (6yr): +26.6%
Annualized: +4.0%/yr
1 BR: $609 → $771

Where Baca County Ranks in Colorado

Baca County is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #1 of 64 counties in Colorado. Nearest by rank: Baca County (this county) ($973), Conejos County ($973), Costilla County ($973), Otero County ($973), Prowers County ($973), Sedgwick County ($973), Saguache County ($975), Jackson County ($989), Alamosa County ($999).

Baca County (this county)
2 BR: $973/mo
Conejos County
2 BR: $973/mo
Costilla County
2 BR: $973/mo
Otero County
2 BR: $973/mo
Prowers County
2 BR: $973/mo
Sedgwick County
2 BR: $973/mo
Saguache County
2 BR: $975/mo
Jackson County
2 BR: $989/mo
Alamosa County
2 BR: $999/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Baca County, both outside Colorado so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside CO (FY2026).

Mahoning County
OH · 2 BR $973/mo
Trumbull County
OH · 2 BR $973/mo
Richland County
OH · 2 BR $973/mo
Columbiana County
OH · 2 BR $973/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside CO).

Park County
MT · 28.9% of income · 2 BR $1,605/mo
Saluda County
SC · 28.9% of income · 2 BR $1,276/mo
De Soto Parish
LA · 28.9% of income · 2 BR $1,111/mo
Radford city
VA · 28.9% of income · 2 BR $1,271/mo

Nearby Counties in Colorado

Largest counties by population in Colorado

Showing the 8 largest of 63 other counties in Colorado.

El Paso County
1 BR: $1,464/mo Pop: 730,323
Denver County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 710,800
Arapahoe County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 654,453
Jefferson County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 580,519
Adams County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 520,149
Douglas County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 360,206
Larimer County
1 BR: $1,537/mo Pop: 359,363
Weld County
1 BR: $1,238/mo Pop: 331,466
View all counties in Colorado →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Baca County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Baca County is $771 per month. A 2-bedroom is $973 and a studio is $746.
How does Baca County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Baca County is 20% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $771 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Baca County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Baca County's 2-bedroom FMR of $973 ranks #976 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Baca County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $30,840 ($2,570/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Baca County.
Is rent going up or down in Baca County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Baca County decreased by 0.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $777 to $771.
Which jobs can afford rent in Baca County? ▼
Based on Colorado BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $771/mo. 15 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Baca County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Baca County went from $609 in FY 2020 to $771 in FY 2026, a total change of +26.6% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Baca County? ▼
In Baca County, the FY 2026 FMR of $771/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 Baca County? ▼
For Baca County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($771/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.