County FMR · HUD FY2026
Blaine County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Blaine County, ID - 27% above the US average.
- $1,219
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,600
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +18.2%
- YoY change
- +27%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Blaine is the 5th most expensive of 44 counties in Idaho by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #409 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 18.2% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #409
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #5
- most expensive of 44 in Idaho (2BR)
- +28%
- vs the state average
- $48,760
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (51.4%); nearby Idaho counties range as much as 54% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Blaine County, ID. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Blaine County, Idaho at $1,219 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,600/mo and a studio is $1,103/mo. This is 27% higher than the national average of $959 and 28% above the Idaho average of $950.
Rent increased18.2% from FY 2025 ($1,031), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $48,760/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
Observed renter burden: 31.7% of the 2,408 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.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 0.0%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.2% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Idaho. Population: 24,248. Population grew 11.8% 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 Idaho's statewide growth of +12.2% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area BLAINE·COUNTY·ID·ID
Blaine County, ID: $1,219/mo 1BR · #409 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA ID
- 1BR-FMR $1,219
- 2BR-FMR $1,600
- RANK-MID #409
- YOY-SURGE +18.2%
- VSUS-HIGH +27%
- VS-ST-HIGH +28% ID
- INC-ROOM 17%
- POP-SMALL 24K
- PHOTO-NEAR Ada County
- VOUCH-90-110 $1,097–$1,341
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Ada ($162 1BR gap)
Read with: Understanding rent burden
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $927 | $1,103 | +$176 (+19.0%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,031 | $1,219 | +$188 (+18.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,352 | $1,600 | +$248 (+18.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,869 | $2,101 | +$232 (+12.4%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,924 | $2,401 | +$477 (+24.8%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Blaine 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 Blaine sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,600 Top 13% higher than 87% 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 Blaine compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Idaho counties
- Ada
Ada County
$1,381 1BR FMR / mo
- Canyon
Canyon County
$1,381 1BR FMR / mo
- Kootenai
Kootenai County
$1,302 1BR FMR / mo
- Blaine
Blaine County
$1,219 1BR FMR / mo
- Bonneville
Bonneville County
$1,095 1BR FMR / mo
- Twin Falls
Twin Falls County
$979 1BR FMR / mo
- Bannock
Bannock County
$894 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Blaine is highlighted. Nearby Idaho counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Ada County ($1,381), Canyon County ($1,381), Kootenai County ($1,302), Blaine County (this county) ($1,219), Bonneville County ($1,095), Twin Falls County ($979), Bannock County ($894).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,219/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Idaho BLS wages?
| Occupation | ID Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $107,900 | 13.6% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $86,100 | 17% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $76,480 | 19.1% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $66,150 | 22.1% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $64,840 | 22.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $60,670 | 24.1% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $59,620 | 24.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $54,020 | 27.1% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $53,260 | 27.5% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $45,210 | 32.4% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,420 | 37.1% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,360 | 41.4% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,400 | 43.8% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,840 | 49% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,450 | 51.4% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Blaine County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Blaine (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 54.1% overall, from $791 to $1,219. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +18.2% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑18.2% | $1,103 | $1,219 | $1,600 |
| FY 2025 ↓0.8% | $927 | $1,031 | $1,352 |
| FY 2024 ↑13.3% | $925 | $1,039 | $1,365 |
| FY 2023 ↑8.1% | $807 | $917 | $1,207 |
| FY 2022 ↑5.0% | $741 | $848 | $1,116 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.1% | $703 | $808 | $1,065 |
| FY 2020 | $679 | $791 | $1,042 |
Part of the Hailey, ID Micro Area
Blaine County is a central county of the Hailey, ID micropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other micro-area counties.
Blaine County ranks #1 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Blaine County (this county) ($1,219), Lincoln County ($888), Camas County ($851).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Blaine County, both outside Idaho 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 ID (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside ID).
Nearby Counties in Idaho
Largest counties by population in Idaho
Showing the 8 largest of 43 other counties in Idaho.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Blaine County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Blaine County is $1,219 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,600 and a studio is $1,103.
How does Blaine County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Blaine County is 27% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,219 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Blaine County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Blaine County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,600 ranks #409 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Blaine County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $48,760 ($4,063/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Blaine County.
Is rent going up or down in Blaine County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Blaine County increased by 18.2% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,031 to $1,219.
Which jobs can afford rent in Blaine County?
Based on Idaho BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,219/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Blaine County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Blaine County went from $791 in FY 2020 to $1,219 in FY 2026, a total change of +54.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Blaine County?
In Blaine County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,219/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 Blaine County?
For Blaine County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,219/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Blaine County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 0.0%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
What is the unemployment rate in Blaine County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.2% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Blaine's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,219 implies about $48,760/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Idaho counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Ada
- See where Blaine ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.