County FMR · HUD FY2026

Barnstable County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Barnstable County, MA - 92% above the US average.

$1,846
1-bedroom FMR
$2,422
2-bedroom FMR
+3.2%
YoY change
+92%
vs US avg

The verdict

Barnstable is the 5th most expensive of 14 counties in Massachusetts by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #31 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#31
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#5
most expensive of 14 in Massachusetts (2BR)
+3%
vs the state average
$73,840
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (14.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (63.2%); nearby Massachusetts counties range as much as 79% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Barnstable County, MA. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Barnstable County, Massachusetts at $1,846 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $2,422/mo and a studio is $1,834/mo. This is 92% higher than the national average of $959 and 3% above the Massachusetts average of $1,796.

Rent increased3.2% from FY 2025 ($1,788), outpacing inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $73,840/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

Observed renter burden: 52.6% of the 20,027 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 Massachusetts. Population: 49,232. Population grew 7.7% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Massachusetts's statewide growth of +2.4% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area BARNSTABLE·COUNTY·MA·MA

Barnstable County, MA: $1,846/mo 1BR · #31 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA MA
  • 1BR-FMR $1,846
  • 2BR-FMR $2,422
  • RANK-UPPER #31
  • YOY-UP +3.2%
  • VSUS-HIGH +92%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +3% MA
  • INC-MID 23%
  • POP-SMALL 49K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Suffolk County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,661–$2,031
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Suffolk ($630 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,696 · US avg: $893
$1,834/mo
↑ 5.5% YoY +8% vs state +105% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,796 · US avg: $959
$1,846/mo
↑ 3.2% YoY +3% vs state +92% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $2,261 · US avg: $1,175
$2,422/mo
↑ 3.2% YoY +7% vs state +106% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $2,823 · US avg: $1,525
$2,985/mo
↑ 3.7% YoY +6% vs state +96% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $3,188 · US avg: $1,756
$3,428/mo
↑ 3.6% YoY +8% vs state +95% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,739
$1,834
+$95 (+5.5%)
1 Bedroom $1,788
$1,846
+$58 (+3.2%)
2 Bedroom $2,346
$2,422
+$76 (+3.2%)
3 Bedroom $2,879
$2,985
+$106 (+3.7%)
4 Bedroom $3,308
$3,428
+$120 (+3.6%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
23.3%
Affordable
Need $73,360/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
23.5%
Affordable
Need $73,840/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
30.8%
Burdened
Need $96,880/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
37.9%
Burdened
Need $119,400/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
43.6%
Burdened
Need $137,120/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%30.8%
Barnstable County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $94,452 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Massachusetts rent burden →

Where Barnstable sits among every US county

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

$2,422 Top 1% higher than 99% 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%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Below this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Below this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Below this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Below this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Barnstable compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Massachusetts counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Barnstable is highlighted. Nearby Massachusetts counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Suffolk County ($2,476), Middlesex County ($2,476), Essex County ($2,476), Barnstable County (this county) ($1,846), Plymouth County ($1,761), Hampshire County ($1,580), Hampden County ($1,382).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,846/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Massachusetts BLS wages?

Occupation MA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $150,520 14.7% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $123,850 17.9% Affordable
Registered Nurses $101,970 21.7% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $96,580 22.9% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $83,260 26.6% Affordable
Electricians $82,120 27% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $78,610 28.2% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $74,990 29.5% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,630 36.5% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $48,060 46.1% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $44,640 49.6% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $44,570 49.7% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $37,920 58.4% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $36,320 61% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $35,060 63.2% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Massachusetts) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Barnstable (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 60.7% overall, from $1,149 to $1,846. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.9% in FY 2022, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600$1,800$2,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,846
Barnstable County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑3.2% $1,834 $1,846 $2,422
FY 2025 ↑12.8% $1,739 $1,788 $2,346
FY 2024 ↑2.1% $1,486 $1,585 $2,082
FY 2023 ↑8.8% $1,401 $1,553 $2,044
FY 2022 ↑12.9% $1,248 $1,428 $1,879
FY 2021 ↑10.1% $1,100 $1,265 $1,667
FY 2020 $986 $1,149 $1,513
Total change (6yr): +60.7%
Annualized: +8.2%/yr
1 BR: $1,149 → $1,846

Part of the Barnstable Town, MA Metro Area

Barnstable County is a central county of the Barnstable Town, MA metropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Barnstable County, both outside Massachusetts 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 MA (FY2026).

Miami-Dade County
FL · 2 BR $2,436/mo
Eagle County
CO · 2 BR $2,379/mo
Summit County
CO · 2 BR $2,467/mo
Middlesex County
NJ · 2 BR $2,486/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Luna County
NM · 30.8% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Buffalo County
SD · 30.7% of income · 2 BR $1,204/mo
Newport News city
VA · 30.8% of income · 2 BR $1,713/mo
Orange County
FL · 30.7% of income · 2 BR $1,972/mo

Nearby Counties in Massachusetts

Largest counties by population in Massachusetts

Showing the 8 largest of 13 other counties in Massachusetts.

Suffolk County
1 BR: $2,476/mo Pop: 663,972
Hampshire County
1 BR: $1,580/mo Pop: 35,472
Hampden County
1 BR: $1,382/mo Pop: 28,510
Middlesex County
1 BR: $2,476/mo Pop: 23,961
Essex County
1 BR: $2,476/mo Pop: 17,277
Plymouth County
1 BR: $1,761/mo Pop: 17,008
Nantucket County
1 BR: $2,425/mo Pop: 14,299
Bristol County
1 BR: $1,230/mo Pop: 10,563
View all counties in Massachusetts →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Barnstable County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Barnstable County is $1,846 per month. A 2-bedroom is $2,422 and a studio is $1,834.
How does Barnstable County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Barnstable County is 92% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,846 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Barnstable County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Barnstable County's 2-bedroom FMR of $2,422 ranks #31 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Barnstable County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $73,840 ($6,153/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Barnstable County.
Is rent going up or down in Barnstable County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Barnstable County increased by 3.2% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,788 to $1,846.
Which jobs can afford rent in Barnstable County? ▼
Based on Massachusetts BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,846/mo. 8 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Barnstable County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Barnstable County went from $1,149 in FY 2020 to $1,846 in FY 2026, a total change of +60.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Barnstable County? ▼
In Barnstable County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,846/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 Barnstable County? ▼
For Barnstable County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,846/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.