County FMR · HUD FY2026
Calcasieu Parish Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Calcasieu Parish, LA - 3% below the US average.
- $928
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,217
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +5.8%
- YoY change
- -3%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Calcasieu is the 9th most expensive of 64 counties in Louisiana by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #975 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 5.8% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #975
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #9
- most expensive of 64 in Louisiana (2BR)
- +12%
- vs the state average
- $37,120
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (48.2%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Calcasieu Parish, LA. Verify with HUD →
Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $928 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,217/mo and a studio is $921/mo. That's 3% below the national benchmark of $959 and 12% above the Louisiana average of $832.
Rent increased5.8% from FY 2025 ($877), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $37,120/year for a 1-bedroom.
Observed renter burden: 44.9% of the 21,371 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 13.5%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.5% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Louisiana. Population: 210,770. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+4.2%, Census ACS). That's faster than Louisiana's statewide growth of -0.9% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area CALCASIEU·PARISH·LA·LA
Calcasieu Parish, LA: $928/mo 1BR · #975 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA LA
- 1BR-FMR $928
- 2BR-FMR $1,217
- RANK-MID #975
- YOY-SURGE +5.8%
- VSUS-NEAR -3%
- VS-ST-HIGH +12% LA
- INC-ROOM 16%
- POP-MID 211K
- PHOTO-NEAR East Baton Rouge P
- VOUCH-90-110 $835–$1,021
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: East Baton Rouge ($136 1BR gap)
Read with: How Fair Market Rent works
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $871 | $921 | +$50 (+5.7%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $877 | $928 | +$51 (+5.8%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,144 | $1,217 | +$73 (+6.4%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,383 | $1,459 | +$76 (+5.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,517 | $1,611 | +$94 (+6.2%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Calcasieu Parish. 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 Calcasieu sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,217 Top 31% higher than 69% 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 Calcasieu compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Louisiana counties
- St. Tammany
St. Tammany Parish
$1,130 1BR FMR / mo
- Jefferson
Jefferson Parish
$1,113 1BR FMR / mo
- Orleans
Orleans Parish
$1,113 1BR FMR / mo
- East Baton Rouge
East Baton Rouge Parish
$1,064 1BR FMR / mo
- Caddo
Caddo Parish
$982 1BR FMR / mo
- Calcasieu
Calcasieu Parish
$928 1BR FMR / mo
- Lafayette
Lafayette Parish
$898 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Calcasieu is highlighted. Nearby Louisiana counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: St. Tammany Parish ($1,130), Jefferson Parish ($1,113), Orleans Parish ($1,113), East Baton Rouge Parish ($1,064), Caddo Parish ($982), Calcasieu Parish (this county) ($928), Lafayette Parish ($898).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $928/mo compares to Louisiana salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | LA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $102,290 | 10.9% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $102,060 | 10.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $78,880 | 14.1% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $69,540 | 16% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $59,590 | 18.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $52,280 | 21.3% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $50,580 | 22% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $48,770 | 22.8% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $47,580 | 23.4% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $38,700 | 28.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $35,890 | 31% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $28,820 | 38.6% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $27,940 | 39.9% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $27,040 | 41.2% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $23,110 | 48.2% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Calcasieu Parish. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Calcasieu (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 40.0% overall, from $663 to $928. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.5% (FY 2023).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑5.8% | $921 | $928 | $1,217 |
| FY 2025 ↑4.4% | $871 | $877 | $1,144 |
| FY 2024 ↑9.5% | $835 | $840 | $1,080 |
| FY 2023 ↑11.5% | $756 | $767 | $983 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.1% | $660 | $688 | $884 |
| FY 2021 ↑1.7% | $650 | $674 | $869 |
| FY 2020 | $617 | $663 | $837 |
Part of the Lake Charles, LA Metro Area
Calcasieu Parish is a central county of the Lake Charles, LA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Calcasieu Parish ranks #2 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Cameron Parish ($928), Calcasieu Parish (this county) ($928), Jefferson Davis Parish ($664).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Calcasieu Parish, both outside Louisiana 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 LA (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside LA).
Nearby Counties in Louisiana
Largest counties by population in Louisiana
Showing the 8 largest of 63 other counties in Louisiana.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Calcasieu Parish?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Calcasieu Parish is $928 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,217 and a studio is $921.
How does Calcasieu Parish rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Calcasieu Parish is 3% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $928 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Calcasieu Parish rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Calcasieu Parish's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,217 ranks #975 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Calcasieu Parish?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $37,120 ($3,093/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Calcasieu Parish.
Is rent going up or down in Calcasieu Parish?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Calcasieu Parish increased by 5.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $877 to $928.
Which jobs can afford rent in Calcasieu Parish?
Based on Louisiana BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $928/mo. 10 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Calcasieu Parish over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Calcasieu Parish went from $663 in FY 2020 to $928 in FY 2026, a total change of +40.0% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Calcasieu Parish?
In Calcasieu Parish, the FY 2026 FMR of $928/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 Calcasieu Parish?
For Calcasieu Parish, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($928/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Calcasieu Parish?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 13.5%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
What is the unemployment rate in Calcasieu Parish?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.5% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Calcasieu'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 $928 implies about $37,120/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Louisiana counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs East Baton Rouge
- See where Calcasieu 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.