County FMR · HUD FY2026
Calhoun County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Calhoun County, AL - 21% below the US average.
- $757
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $962
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +3.7%
- YoY change
- -21%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Calhoun is the 25th most expensive of 67 counties in Alabama by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #25
- most expensive of 67 in Alabama (2BR)
- -2%
- vs the state average
- $30,280
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +3.7%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (39.9%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Calhoun County, AL. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Calhoun County, Alabama is $757 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $962/mo and a studio is $753/mo. This is 21% lower than the national average of $959 and 2% below the Alabama average of $772.
Rent increased3.7% from FY 2025 ($730), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $30,280/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Alabama. Population: 116,162. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.9%, Census ACS). That's slower than Alabama's statewide growth of +3.9% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Calhoun County
The Calhoun County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Alabama'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 21% below the US average of $959 and 2% lower than the Alabama state average of $772. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$730 in FY 2025 to $757 in FY 2026 - a change of +3.7%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $757, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $30,280 per year (about $2,523/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $962 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 116,162 and a county median household income of $55,826, 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 | $725 | $753 | +$28 (+3.9%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $730 | $757 | +$27 (+3.7%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $941 | $962 | +$21 (+2.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,295 | $1,300 | +$5 (+0.4%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,394 | $1,361 | $-33 (-2.4%) |
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 Calhoun 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.
Calhoun County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Calhoun sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$962 higher than 30% 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 Calhoun compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Alabama counties
- Baldwin
Baldwin County
$1,200 1BR FMR / mo
- Jefferson
Jefferson County
$1,155 1BR FMR / mo
- Madison
Madison County
$1,136 1BR FMR / mo
- Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa County
$972 1BR FMR / mo
- Mobile
Mobile County
$919 1BR FMR / mo
- Montgomery
Montgomery County
$870 1BR FMR / mo
- Calhoun
Calhoun County
$757 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Calhoun is highlighted. Nearby Alabama counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Baldwin County ($1,200), Jefferson County ($1,155), Madison County ($1,136), Tuscaloosa County ($972), Mobile County ($919), Montgomery County ($870), Calhoun County (this county) ($757).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $757/mo compares to Alabama salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | AL Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $113,020 | 8% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $106,330 | 8.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $71,040 | 12.8% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $71,070 | 12.8% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $59,850 | 15.2% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $53,850 | 16.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $52,420 | 17.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,120 | 18.1% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $46,060 | 19.7% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,690 | 24.1% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,730 | 24.1% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,430 | 30.9% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $29,120 | 31.2% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $23,490 | 38.7% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $22,790 | 39.9% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Calhoun County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Calhoun (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 42.6% overall, from $531 to $757. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.8% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑3.7% | $753 | $757 | $962 |
| FY 2025 ↑6.3% | $725 | $730 | $941 |
| FY 2024 ↑12.8% | $683 | $687 | $903 |
| FY 2023 ↑7.8% | $605 | $609 | $802 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.9% | $562 | $565 | $744 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.4% | $482 | $549 | $723 |
| FY 2020 | $468 | $531 | $700 |
Part of the Anniston-Oxford, AL Metro Area
Calhoun County is a central county of the Anniston-Oxford, AL metropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Alabama
Largest counties by population in Alabama
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Calhoun County? ▼
How does Calhoun County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Calhoun County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Calhoun County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Calhoun County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Calhoun County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Calhoun County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Calhoun County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Calhoun'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 $757 implies about $30,280/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 Calhoun 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.