County FMR · HUD FY2026
Bedford County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Bedford County, PA - 23% below the US average.
- $742
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $973
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +7.2%
- YoY change
- -23%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Bedford is the 1st cheapest of 67 counties in Pennsylvania by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 7.2% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #1
- cheapest of 67 in Pennsylvania (2BR)
- -26%
- vs the state average
- $29,680
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +7.2%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.2%), 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 Bedford County, PA. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Bedford County, Pennsylvania is $742 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $973/mo and a studio is $677/mo. This is 23% lower than the national average of $959 and 26% below the Pennsylvania average of $996.
Rent increased7.2% from FY 2025 ($692), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $29,680/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Pennsylvania. Population: 47,613. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.3%, Census ACS). That's slower than Pennsylvania's statewide growth of +1.5% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Bedford County
The Bedford County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Pennsylvania'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.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 23% below the US average of $959 and 26% lower than the Pennsylvania state average of $996. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$692 in FY 2025 to $742 in FY 2026 - a change of +7.2%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $742, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $29,680 per year (about $2,473/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $973 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 47,613 and a county median household income of $60,302, 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 | $639 | $677 | +$38 (+5.9%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $692 | $742 | +$50 (+7.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $908 | $973 | +$65 (+7.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,156 | $1,226 | +$70 (+6.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,393 | $1,476 | +$83 (+6.0%) |
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 Bedford 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.
Bedford County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Bedford sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$973 higher than 31% 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 Bedford compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Pennsylvania counties
- Philadelphia
Philadelphia County
$1,520 1BR FMR / mo
- Montgomery
Montgomery County
$1,520 1BR FMR / mo
- Bucks
Bucks County
$1,520 1BR FMR / mo
- Delaware
Delaware County
$1,520 1BR FMR / mo
- Lancaster
Lancaster County
$1,220 1BR FMR / mo
- Allegheny
Allegheny County
$1,077 1BR FMR / mo
- Bedford
Bedford County
$742 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Bedford is highlighted. Nearby Pennsylvania counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Philadelphia County ($1,520), Montgomery County ($1,520), Bucks County ($1,520), Delaware County ($1,520), Lancaster County ($1,220), Allegheny County ($1,077), Bedford County (this county) ($742).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $742/mo compares to Pennsylvania salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | PA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $123,740 | 7.2% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $100,400 | 8.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $87,610 | 10.2% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $86,350 | 10.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,330 | 11.5% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $74,160 | 12% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $65,400 | 13.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $60,950 | 14.6% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,540 | 15.2% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,080 | 20.7% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,560 | 23.7% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,670 | 25% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,550 | 29.1% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,410 | 29.3% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,490 | 31.3% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Bedford County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Bedford (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 23.3% overall, from $602 to $742. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 7.6% (FY 2025).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑7.2% | $677 | $742 | $973 |
| FY 2025 ↑7.6% | $639 | $692 | $908 |
| FY 2024 ↑0.6% | $608 | $643 | $845 |
| FY 2023 ↑5.3% | $635 | $639 | $821 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.5% | $589 | $607 | $757 |
| FY 2021 ↓1.7% | $571 | $592 | $724 |
| FY 2020 | $571 | $602 | $714 |
Where Bedford County Ranks in Pennsylvania
Bedford 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 67 counties in Pennsylvania. Nearest by rank: Bedford County (this county) ($973), Clarion County ($973), Crawford County ($973), Elk County ($973), Forest County ($973), Fulton County ($973), Huntingdon County ($973), Jefferson County ($973), Juniata County ($973).
Nearby Counties in Pennsylvania
Largest counties by population in Pennsylvania
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Bedford County? ▼
How does Bedford County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Bedford County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Bedford County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Bedford County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Bedford County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Bedford County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Bedford County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Bedford'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 $742 implies about $29,680/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 Bedford 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.