County FMR · HUD FY2026
Bristol County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Bristol County, MA - 28% above the US average.
- $1,230
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,527
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +4.5%
- YoY change
- +28%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Bristol is the 1st cheapest of 14 counties in Massachusetts by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #440 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #440
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #1
- cheapest of 14 in Massachusetts (2BR)
- -32%
- vs the state average
- $49,200
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (42.1%); nearby Massachusetts counties range as much as 79% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Bristol County, MA. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Bristol County, Massachusetts is $1,230 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,527/mo and a studio is $1,203/mo. This is 28% higher than the national average of $959 and 32% below the Massachusetts average of $1,796.
Rent increased4.5% from FY 2025 ($1,177), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $49,200/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
Observed renter burden: 47.6% of the 87,659 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 2.3%, 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 5.2% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Massachusetts. Population: 10,563. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.5%, Census ACS). That's in line with Massachusetts's statewide growth of +2.4% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area BRISTOL·COUNTY·MA·MA
Bristol County, MA: $1,230/mo 1BR · #440 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA MA
- 1BR-FMR $1,230
- 2BR-FMR $1,527
- RANK-MID #440
- YOY-UP +4.5%
- VSUS-HIGH +28%
- VS-ST-LOW -32% MA
- INC-ROOM 18%
- POP-SMALL 11K
- PHOTO-NEAR Suffolk County
- VOUCH-90-110 $1,107–$1,353
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Suffolk ($1,246 1BR gap)
Read with: Understanding rent burden
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,081 | $1,203 | +$122 (+11.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,177 | $1,230 | +$53 (+4.5%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,448 | $1,527 | +$79 (+5.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,745 | $1,831 | +$86 (+4.9%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,088 | $2,289 | +$201 (+9.6%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Bristol 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 Bristol sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,527 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 Bristol compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Massachusetts counties
- Suffolk
Suffolk County
$2,476 1BR FMR / mo
- Middlesex
Middlesex County
$2,476 1BR FMR / mo
- Essex
Essex County
$2,476 1BR FMR / mo
- Barnstable
Barnstable County
$1,846 1BR FMR / mo
- Hampshire
Hampshire County
$1,580 1BR FMR / mo
- Hampden
Hampden County
$1,382 1BR FMR / mo
- Bristol
Bristol County
$1,230 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Bristol is highlighted. Nearby Massachusetts counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Suffolk County ($2,476), Middlesex County ($2,476), Essex County ($2,476), Barnstable County ($1,846), Hampshire County ($1,580), Hampden County ($1,382), Bristol County (this county) ($1,230).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,230/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Massachusetts BLS wages?
| Occupation | MA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $150,520 | 9.8% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $123,850 | 11.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $101,970 | 14.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $96,580 | 15.3% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $83,260 | 17.7% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $82,120 | 18% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $78,610 | 18.8% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $74,990 | 19.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,630 | 24.3% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $48,060 | 30.7% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $44,640 | 33.1% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $44,570 | 33.1% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $37,920 | 38.9% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,320 | 40.6% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $35,060 | 42.1% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Bristol County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Bristol (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 56.9% overall, from $784 to $1,230. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.4% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑4.5% | $1,203 | $1,230 | $1,527 |
| FY 2025 ↓2.3% | $1,081 | $1,177 | $1,448 |
| FY 2024 ↑14.7% | $1,027 | $1,205 | $1,463 |
| FY 2023 ↑16.4% | $890 | $1,051 | $1,282 |
| FY 2022 ↑10.4% | $809 | $903 | $1,114 |
| FY 2021 ↑4.3% | $777 | $818 | $1,012 |
| FY 2020 | $770 | $784 | $962 |
Part of the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metro Area
Bristol County is a central county of the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 5 other metro-area counties.
Bristol County ranks #6 of 6 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Kent County ($1,402), Bristol County ($1,402), Providence County ($1,402), Washington County ($1,402), Newport County ($1,402), Bristol County (this county) ($1,230).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Bristol County, both outside Massachusetts 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 MA (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MA).
Nearby Counties in Massachusetts
Largest counties by population in Massachusetts
Showing the 8 largest of 13 other counties in Massachusetts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Bristol County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Bristol County is $1,230 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,527 and a studio is $1,203.
How does Bristol County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Bristol County is 28% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,230 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Bristol County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Bristol County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,527 ranks #440 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 Bristol County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $49,200 ($4,100/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Bristol County.
Is rent going up or down in Bristol County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Bristol County increased by 4.5% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,177 to $1,230.
Which jobs can afford rent in Bristol County?
Based on Massachusetts BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,230/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Bristol County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Bristol County went from $784 in FY 2020 to $1,230 in FY 2026, a total change of +56.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Bristol County?
In Bristol County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,230/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 Bristol County?
For Bristol County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,230/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Bristol County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 2.3%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
What is the unemployment rate in Bristol County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 5.2% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Bristol'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 $1,230 implies about $49,200/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Massachusetts counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Suffolk
- See where Bristol 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.