County FMR · HUD FY2026
Butler County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Butler County, PA - 12% above the US average.
- $1,077
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,299
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +0.8%
- YoY change
- +12%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Butler is the 25th most expensive of 67 counties in Pennsylvania by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #755 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #755
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #25
- most expensive of 67 in Pennsylvania (2BR)
- +8%
- vs the state average
- $43,080
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (45.4%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Butler County, PA. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Butler County, Pennsylvania at $1,077 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,299/mo and a studio is $1,001/mo. This is 12% higher than the national average of $959 and 8% above the Pennsylvania average of $996.
Rent increased0.8% from FY 2025 ($1,068), roughly tracking inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $43,080/year for a 1-bedroom.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Pennsylvania. Population: 194,562. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+5.0%, Census ACS). That's faster than Pennsylvania's statewide growth of +1.5% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Butler County
HUD publishes one FMR schedule per FMR area (often the county). Local housing authorities use it as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard baseline. See how FMR is calculated.
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Butler County's 2-bedroom of $1,299 ranks #755 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
Butler County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (12% above the US average of $959), while sitting 8% above the Pennsylvania average of $996. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$1,068 in FY 2025 to $1,077 in FY 2026, a change of +0.8%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,077, the 30% rule points to $43,080/year (about $3,590/month) versus this county's median household income of $86,775. A 2-bedroom at $1,299 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $998 | $1,001 | +$3 (+0.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,068 | $1,077 | +$9 (+0.8%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,280 | $1,299 | +$19 (+1.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,632 | $1,661 | +$29 (+1.8%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,759 | $1,789 | +$30 (+1.7%) |
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 Butler 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 Butler sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,299 Top 24% higher than 76% 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 Butler compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Pennsylvania counties
- Philadelphia
Philadelphia County
$1,520 1BR FMR / mo
- Montgomery
Montgomery County
$1,520 1BR FMR / mo
- Bucks
Bucks County
$1,520 1BR FMR / mo
- Delaware
Delaware County
$1,520 1BR FMR / mo
- Lancaster
Lancaster County
$1,220 1BR FMR / mo
- Butler
Butler County
$1,077 1BR FMR / mo
- Allegheny
Allegheny County
$1,077 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Butler is highlighted. Nearby Pennsylvania counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Philadelphia County ($1,520), Montgomery County ($1,520), Bucks County ($1,520), Delaware County ($1,520), Lancaster County ($1,220), Butler County (this county) ($1,077), Allegheny County ($1,077).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,077/mo compares to Pennsylvania salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | PA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $123,740 | 10.4% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $100,400 | 12.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $87,610 | 14.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $86,350 | 15% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,330 | 16.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $74,160 | 17.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $65,400 | 19.8% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $60,950 | 21.2% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,540 | 22.1% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,080 | 30% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,560 | 34.4% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,670 | 36.2% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,550 | 42.3% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,410 | 42.5% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,490 | 45.4% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Butler County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Butler (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 48.1% overall, from $727 to $1,077. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.0% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑0.8% | $1,001 | $1,077 | $1,299 |
| FY 2025 ↑10.7% | $998 | $1,068 | $1,280 |
| FY 2024 ↑6.7% | $917 | $965 | $1,161 |
| FY 2023 ↑12.0% | $862 | $904 | $1,090 |
| FY 2022 ↑4.5% | $763 | $807 | $981 |
| FY 2021 ↑6.2% | $714 | $772 | $940 |
| FY 2020 | $661 | $727 | $890 |
Part of the Pittsburgh, PA Metro Area
Butler County is a central county of the Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 7 other metro-area counties.
Butler County ranks #6 of 8 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Allegheny County ($1,077), Westmoreland County ($1,077), Washington County ($1,077), Beaver County ($1,077), Fayette County ($1,077), Butler County (this county) ($1,077), Lawrence County ($780), Armstrong County ($767).
Nearby Counties in Pennsylvania
Largest counties by population in Pennsylvania
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Butler County? ▼
How does Butler County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Butler County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Butler County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Butler County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Butler County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Butler County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Butler County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Butler County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Butler'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 $1,077 implies about $43,080/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 Butler 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.