County FMR · HUD FY2026
Baker County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Baker County, OR - 6% below the US average.
- $898
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,047
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +11.0%
- YoY change
- -6%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Baker is the 4th cheapest of 36 counties in Oregon by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 11.0% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #4
- cheapest of 36 in Oregon (2BR)
- -21%
- vs the state average
- $35,920
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +11.0%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (31.3%); 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 Baker County, OR. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Baker County, Oregon at $898 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,047/mo and a studio is $761/mo. This is 6% lower than the national average of $959 and 21% below the Oregon average of $1,143.
Rent increased11.0% from FY 2025 ($809), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $35,920/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Oregon. Population: 16,685. Population grew 5.1% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's in line with Oregon's statewide growth of +3.8% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Baker County
The Baker County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Oregon'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.
Baker County's 1-bedroom rent runs 6% below the US average of $959 and 21% lower than the Oregon state average of $1,143. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$809 in FY 2025 to $898 in FY 2026 - a change of +11.0%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $898, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $35,920 per year (about $2,993/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,047 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 16,685 and a county median household income of $57,844, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $669 | $761 | +$92 (+13.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $809 | $898 | +$89 (+11.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $940 | $1,047 | +$107 (+11.4%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,317 | $1,456 | +$139 (+10.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,579 | $1,756 | +$177 (+11.2%) |
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 Baker 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.
Baker County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Baker sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,047 higher than 53% 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 Baker compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Oregon counties
- Multnomah
Multnomah County
$1,677 1BR FMR / mo
- Washington
Washington County
$1,677 1BR FMR / mo
- Clackamas
Clackamas County
$1,677 1BR FMR / mo
- Lane
Lane County
$1,286 1BR FMR / mo
- Jackson
Jackson County
$1,229 1BR FMR / mo
- Marion
Marion County
$1,201 1BR FMR / mo
- Baker
Baker County
$898 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Baker is highlighted. Nearby Oregon counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Multnomah County ($1,677), Washington County ($1,677), Clackamas County ($1,677), Lane County ($1,286), Jackson County ($1,229), Marion County ($1,201), Baker County (this county) ($898).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $898/mo compares to Oregon salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | OR Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $135,260 | 8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $123,990 | 8.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $98,580 | 10.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $97,320 | 11.1% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $88,140 | 12.2% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $81,130 | 13.3% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $75,800 | 14.2% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $63,970 | 16.8% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $61,180 | 17.6% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $51,210 | 21% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,280 | 23.3% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,550 | 28.7% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,540 | 29.5% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,140 | 29.8% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $34,430 | 31.3% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Baker County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Baker (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 45.5% overall, from $617 to $898. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.0% (FY 2026).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑11.0% | $761 | $898 | $1,047 |
| FY 2025 ↑6.6% | $669 | $809 | $940 |
| FY 2024 ↑5.6% | $634 | $759 | $917 |
| FY 2023 ↑6.0% | $602 | $719 | $893 |
| FY 2022 ↑6.4% | $569 | $678 | $856 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.2% | $535 | $637 | $811 |
| FY 2020 | $516 | $617 | $790 |
Part of the Baker City, OR Micro Area
Baker County is a central county of the Baker City, OR micropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Oregon
Largest counties by population in Oregon
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Baker County? ▼
How does Baker County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Baker County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Baker County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Baker County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Baker County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Baker County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Baker County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Baker'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 $898 implies about $35,920/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 Baker 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.