County FMR · HUD FY2026

Boulder County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Boulder County, CO - 87% above the US average.

$1,795
1-bedroom FMR
$2,124
2-bedroom FMR
+5.5%
YoY change
+87%
vs US avg

The verdict

Boulder is the 4th most expensive of 64 counties in Colorado by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #94 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 5.5% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#94
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#4
most expensive of 64 in Colorado (2BR)
+55%
vs the state average
$71,800
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (16%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (68.6%); only 6 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 Boulder County, CO. Verify with HUD →

Boulder County, Colorado carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,795 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $2,124/mo and a studio is $1,553/mo. That's 87% above the national benchmark of $959 and 55% above the Colorado average of $1,161.

Rent increased5.5% from FY 2025 ($1,702), outpacing inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $71,800/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

Observed renter burden: 57.1% of the 50,769 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 Colorado. Population: 328,658. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.3%, Census ACS). That's slower than Colorado's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area BOULDER·COUNTY·CO·CO

Boulder County, CO: $1,795/mo 1BR · #94 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA CO
  • 1BR-FMR $1,795
  • 2BR-FMR $2,124
  • RANK-UPPER #94
  • YOY-SURGE +5.5%
  • VSUS-HIGH +87%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +55% CO
  • INC-MID 21%
  • POP-MAJOR 329K
  • PHOTO-NEAR El Paso County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,616–$1,975
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: El Paso ($331 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,083 · US avg: $893
$1,553/mo
↑ 5.9% YoY +43% vs state +74% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,161 · US avg: $959
$1,795/mo
↑ 5.5% YoY +55% vs state +87% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,429 · US avg: $1,175
$2,124/mo
↑ 3.2% YoY +49% vs state +81% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,861 · US avg: $1,525
$2,820/mo
↑ 4.3% YoY +52% vs state +85% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,178 · US avg: $1,756
$3,239/mo
↑ 4.8% YoY +49% vs state +84% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,466
$1,553
+$87 (+5.9%)
1 Bedroom $1,702
$1,795
+$93 (+5.5%)
2 Bedroom $2,059
$2,124
+$65 (+3.2%)
3 Bedroom $2,704
$2,820
+$116 (+4.3%)
4 Bedroom $3,092
$3,239
+$147 (+4.8%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
18.1%
Affordable
Need $62,120/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
21%
Affordable
Need $71,800/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
24.8%
Affordable
Need $84,960/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
32.9%
Burdened
Need $112,800/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
37.8%
Burdened
Need $129,560/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%24.8%
Boulder County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $102,772 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Colorado rent burden →

Where Boulder sits among every US county

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

$2,124 Top 3% higher than 97% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $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 Boulder compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Colorado counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Boulder is highlighted. Nearby Colorado counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Boulder County (this county) ($1,795), Denver County ($1,754), Arapahoe County ($1,754), Jefferson County ($1,754), Adams County ($1,754), Douglas County ($1,754), El Paso County ($1,464).

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 $1,795/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Colorado BLS wages?

Occupation CO Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $134,540 16% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $130,340 16.5% Affordable
Registered Nurses $96,520 22.3% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $96,100 22.4% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $90,030 23.9% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $73,380 29.4% Affordable
Electricians $62,090 34.7% Stretched
Elementary School Teachers $61,550 35% Stretched
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,260 35.7% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $48,070 44.8% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $46,020 46.8% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $37,270 57.8% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $36,960 58.3% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $35,440 60.8% Unaffordable
Teaching Assistants $31,390 68.6% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Colorado) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Boulder (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 27.1% overall, from $1,412 to $1,795. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.5% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$1,300$1,400$1,500$1,600$1,700$1,800$1,900 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,795
Boulder County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑5.5% $1,553 $1,795 $2,124
FY 2025 ↓6.6% $1,466 $1,702 $2,059
FY 2024 ↑15.5% $1,585 $1,823 $2,217
FY 2023 ↑8.9% $1,397 $1,578 $1,911
FY 2022 ↑1.5% $1,284 $1,449 $1,748
FY 2021 ↑1.1% $1,279 $1,428 $1,724
FY 2020 $1,273 $1,412 $1,717
Total change (6yr): +27.1%
Annualized: +4.1%/yr
1 BR: $1,412 → $1,795

Part of the Boulder, CO Metro Area

Boulder County is a central county of the Boulder, CO metropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Boulder County, both outside Colorado 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 CO (FY2026).

Hillsborough County
NH · 2 BR $2,127/mo
Grand Isle County
VT · 2 BR $2,140/mo
Franklin County
VT · 2 BR $2,140/mo
Chittenden County
VT · 2 BR $2,140/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Waller County
TX · 24.8% of income · 2 BR $1,573/mo
Webster County
WV · 24.8% of income · 2 BR $869/mo
Shelby County
IN · 24.8% of income · 2 BR $1,473/mo
Richland County
SC · 24.8% of income · 2 BR $1,276/mo

Nearby Counties in Colorado

Largest counties by population in Colorado

Showing the 8 largest of 63 other counties in Colorado.

El Paso County
1 BR: $1,464/mo Pop: 730,323
Denver County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 710,800
Arapahoe County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 654,453
Jefferson County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 580,519
Adams County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 520,149
Douglas County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 360,206
Larimer County
1 BR: $1,537/mo Pop: 359,363
Weld County
1 BR: $1,238/mo Pop: 331,466
View all counties in Colorado →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Boulder County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Boulder County is $1,795 per month. A 2-bedroom is $2,124 and a studio is $1,553.
How does Boulder County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Boulder County is 87% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,795 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Boulder County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Boulder County's 2-bedroom FMR of $2,124 ranks #94 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 Boulder County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $71,800 ($5,983/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Boulder County.
Is rent going up or down in Boulder County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Boulder County increased by 5.5% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,702 to $1,795.
Which jobs can afford rent in Boulder County? ▼
Based on Colorado BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,795/mo. 6 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Boulder County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Boulder County went from $1,412 in FY 2020 to $1,795 in FY 2026, a total change of +27.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Boulder County? ▼
In Boulder County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,795/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 Boulder County? ▼
For Boulder County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,795/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.