County FMR · HUD FY2026

Bledsoe County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Bledsoe County, TN - 23% below the US average.

$743
1-bedroom FMR
$975
2-bedroom FMR
+8.5%
YoY change
-23%
vs US avg

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Bledsoe County, TN. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Bledsoe County, Tennessee is $743 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $975/mo and a studio is $738/mo.

This is 23% lower than the national average of $959 and 20% below the Tennessee average of $924. Rent increased8.5% from FY 2025 ($685), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $29,720/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Tennessee. Population: 14,816.

What these rents mean for Bledsoe County

HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule sets the Bledsoe County Tennessee 1-bedroom at $743, with a studio at $738, 2-bedroom at $975, 3-bedroom at $1,169, and 4-bedroom at $1,636. These figures represent the 40th percentile of gross rents, meaning 60% of standard-quality rental units in this HUD area cost more. The Bledsoe County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Tennessee's housing authorities use it as the baseline when setting Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards (typically 90%–110% of FMR).

Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 23% below the US average of $959 and 20% lower than the Tennessee state average of $924. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from $685 in FY 2025 to $743 in FY 2026 - a change of +8.5%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

For budgeting, the traditional 30% affordability rule says rent should not exceed 30% of gross household income. At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $743, that implies a household income of $29,720 per year (about $2,477/month) to stay affordable, a 2-bedroom at $975 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 14,816 and a county median household income of $49,655, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened. Rent-burdened households (paying more than 30% of income) and severely burdened households (above 50%) face a sharply higher risk of housing instability, and this county's numbers set the benchmark for assessing that risk.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $882 · US avg: $893
$738/mo
↑ 8.4% YoY -16% vs state -17% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $924 · US avg: $959
$743/mo
↑ 8.5% YoY -20% vs state -23% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,118 · US avg: $1,175
$975/mo
↑ 8.5% YoY -13% vs state -17% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,445 · US avg: $1,525
$1,169/mo
↑ 6.0% YoY -19% vs state -23% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,644 · US avg: $1,756
$1,636/mo
↑ 8.3% YoY -0% vs state -7% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $681
$738
+$57 (+8.4%)
1 Bedroom $685
$743
+$58 (+8.5%)
2 Bedroom $899
$975
+$76 (+8.5%)
3 Bedroom $1,103
$1,169
+$66 (+6.0%)
4 Bedroom $1,510
$1,636
+$126 (+8.3%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$29,720
$2,477/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$39,000
$3,250/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
17.8%
Affordable
Need $29,520/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
18%
Affordable
Need $29,720/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
23.6%
Affordable
Need $39,000/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
28.3%
Affordable
Need $46,760/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
39.5%
Burdened
Need $65,440/yr for 30% rule
County median income: $49,655 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Tennessee rent burden →

How Bledsoe compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Tennessee counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Bledsoe is highlighted. Bars are FY2026 HUD 1-bedroom Fair Market Rents.

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $743/mo compares to Tennessee salaries for popular occupations, using the 30%-of-income affordability rule. Wage figures are state-level median annual earnings from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics.

Occupation TN Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $117,340 7.6% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $102,850 8.7% Affordable
Registered Nurses $79,030 11.3% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $75,500 11.8% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $59,410 15% Affordable
Electricians $59,190 15.1% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,610 16% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $55,270 16.1% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $52,690 16.9% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $40,130 22.2% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $38,130 23.4% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $31,220 28.6% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $30,770 29% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $28,030 31.8% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $27,840 32% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Tennessee) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

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

Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑8.5% $738 $743 $975
FY 2025 ↑4.6% $681 $685 $899
FY 2024 ↑15.5% $651 $655 $861
FY 2023 ↑10.3% $564 $567 $747
FY 2022 ↓6.4% $510 $514 $676
FY 2021 ↓0.9% $514 $549 $663
FY 2020 $492 $554 $649
Total change (6yr): +34.1%
Annualized: +5.0%/yr
1 BR: $554 → $743

Nearby Counties in Tennessee

Largest counties by population in Tennessee

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Bledsoe County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Bledsoe County is $743 per month. A 2-bedroom is $975 and a studio is $738.
How does Bledsoe County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Bledsoe County is 23% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $743 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Bledsoe County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $29,720 ($2,477/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Bledsoe County.
Is rent going up or down in Bledsoe County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Bledsoe County increased by 8.5% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $685 to $743.
Which jobs can afford rent in Bledsoe County?
Based on Tennessee BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $743/mo. 13 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Bledsoe County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Bledsoe County went from $554 in FY 2020 to $743 in FY 2026, a total change of +34.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Bledsoe County?
HUD uses Fair Market Rents to set maximum payment standards for Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) in Bledsoe County. The FY 2026 FMR of $743/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline, local housing authorities can set their payment standard between 90% and 110% of FMR.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Bledsoe County?
Fair Market Rent (FMR) is the 40th percentile rent estimate set by HUD for Bledsoe County. It includes rent plus the cost of utilities (except telephone). FMR is used to determine housing assistance payment amounts, set rent ceilings for certain HUD programs, and evaluate housing affordability.

Rental Guides

Explore more rent data

More HUD Fair Market Rent tools and rankings for Bledsoe County and beyond.

What this means for renters

Treat Bledsoe'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 $743 implies about $29,720/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 Bledsoe can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year.

Data Sources

Primary source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. FMRs represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard quality units in each area.

Affordability data: Income-to-rent ratios calculated using the 30% affordability standard. Population and income data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) estimates.

Salary data: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, used for job affordability analysis.

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