County FMR · HUD FY2026
Benton County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Benton County, WA - 32% above the US average.
- $1,268
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,538
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +2.6%
- YoY change
- +32%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Benton is the 14th most expensive of 39 counties in Washington by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #440 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #440
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #14
- most expensive of 39 in Washington (2BR)
- +7%
- vs the state average
- $50,720
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (41.3%); nearby Washington counties range as much as 80% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Benton County, WA. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Benton County, Washington is $1,268 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,538/mo and a studio is $1,122/mo. This is 32% higher than the national average of $959 and 7% above the Washington average of $1,180.
Rent increased2.6% from FY 2025 ($1,236), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $50,720/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Washington. Population: 207,560. Population grew 8.3% 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 Washington's statewide growth of +6.1% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Benton County
HUD publishes one FMR schedule per FMR area (often the county). Local housing authorities use it as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard baseline. See how FMR is calculated.
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Benton County's 2-bedroom of $1,538 ranks #440 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
Rents run meaningfully above the national benchmark: 1-bedroom FMR is 32% higher than the US average of $959 (7% above Washington's $1,180). From FY 2025 to FY 2026 the 1-bedroom schedule moved $1,236 → $1,268 (+2.6%), widening an already-expensive gap versus national norms.
At $1,268/mo for a 1-bedroom, the 30% rule wants $50,720/year: still within reach of the county median income of $87,316, though a 2-bedroom at $1,538 raises the bar.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,101 | $1,122 | +$21 (+1.9%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,236 | $1,268 | +$32 (+2.6%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,503 | $1,538 | +$35 (+2.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,003 | $2,071 | +$68 (+3.4%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,318 | $2,385 | +$67 (+2.9%) |
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 Benton 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.
Where Benton sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,538 Top 14% higher than 86% 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 Benton compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Washington counties
- King
King County
$2,146 1BR FMR / mo
- Snohomish
Snohomish County
$2,146 1BR FMR / mo
- Thurston
Thurston County
$1,682 1BR FMR / mo
- Clark
Clark County
$1,677 1BR FMR / mo
- Pierce
Pierce County
$1,605 1BR FMR / mo
- Benton
Benton County
$1,268 1BR FMR / mo
- Spokane
Spokane County
$1,193 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Benton is highlighted. Nearby Washington counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: King County ($2,146), Snohomish County ($2,146), Thurston County ($1,682), Clark County ($1,677), Pierce County ($1,605), Benton County (this county) ($1,268), Spokane County ($1,193).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,268/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Washington BLS wages?
| Occupation | WA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $166,910 | 9.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $130,240 | 11.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $112,180 | 13.6% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $102,640 | 14.8% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $99,110 | 15.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $96,180 | 15.8% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $96,530 | 15.8% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $78,010 | 19.5% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $63,760 | 23.9% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $56,140 | 27.1% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $49,150 | 31% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $47,210 | 32.2% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $43,720 | 34.8% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $38,350 | 39.7% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $36,820 | 41.3% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Benton County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Benton (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 43.6% overall, from $883 to $1,268. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 26.3% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑2.6% | $1,122 | $1,268 | $1,538 |
| FY 2025 ↑2.5% | $1,101 | $1,236 | $1,503 |
| FY 2024 ↑26.3% | $1,052 | $1,206 | $1,485 |
| FY 2023 ↑11.7% | $811 | $955 | $1,187 |
| FY 2022 ↑3.8% | $704 | $855 | $1,060 |
| FY 2021 ↓6.7% | $678 | $824 | $1,019 |
| FY 2020 | $720 | $883 | $1,089 |
Part of the Kennewick-Richland, WA Metro Area
Benton County is a central county of the Kennewick-Richland, WA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.
Benton County ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Franklin County ($1,268), Benton County (this county) ($1,268).
Nearby Counties in Washington
Largest counties by population in Washington
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Benton County? ▼
How does Benton County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Benton County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Benton County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Benton County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Benton County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Benton County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Benton County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Benton County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Benton'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 $1,268 implies about $50,720/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 Benton 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.