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.
- #1
- cheapest of 14 in Massachusetts (2BR)
- -32%
- vs the state average
- $49,200
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +4.5%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
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. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $49,200/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
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.
What these rents mean for Bristol County
The Bristol County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Massachusetts's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 28% above the US average of $959 and 32% lower than the Massachusetts state average of $1,796. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$1,177 in FY 2025 to $1,230 in FY 2026 - a change of +4.5%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,230, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $49,200 per year (about $4,100/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,527 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 10,563 and a county median household income of $84,198, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
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%) |
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 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.
Bristol County 2-bedroom rent burden
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?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,230/mo compares to Massachusetts salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| 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).
Nearby Counties in Massachusetts
Largest counties by population in Massachusetts
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Bristol County? ▼
How does Bristol County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Bristol County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Bristol County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Bristol County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Bristol County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Bristol County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Bristol County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Bristol'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 $1,230 implies about $49,200/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 Bristol 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.