County FMR · HUD FY2026
Caroline County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Caroline County, MD - 4% above the US average.
- $1,001
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,314
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +1.4%
- YoY change
- +4%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Caroline is the 8th cheapest of 24 counties in Maryland by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #8
- cheapest of 24 in Maryland (2BR)
- -29%
- vs the state average
- $40,040
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +1.4%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (38.5%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Caroline County, MD. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Caroline County, Maryland is $1,001 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,314/mo and a studio is $995/mo. This is 4% higher than the national average of $959 and 29% below the Maryland average of $1,404.
Rent increased1.4% from FY 2025 ($987), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $40,040/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Maryland. Population: 33,320. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.6%, Census ACS). That's in line with Maryland's statewide growth of +2.8% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Caroline County
The Caroline County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Maryland'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 4% above the US average of $959 and 29% lower than the Maryland state average of $1,404. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$987 in FY 2025 to $1,001 in FY 2026 - a change of +1.4%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,001, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $40,040 per year (about $3,337/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,314 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 33,320 and a county median household income of $66,368, 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 | $981 | $995 | +$14 (+1.4%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $987 | $1,001 | +$14 (+1.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,295 | $1,314 | +$19 (+1.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,688 | $1,642 | $-46 (-2.7%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,153 | $2,184 | +$31 (+1.4%) |
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 Caroline 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.
Caroline County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Caroline sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,314 Top 23% higher than 77% 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 Caroline compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Maryland counties
- Montgomery
Montgomery County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Prince George's
Prince George's County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Baltimore
Baltimore County
$1,511 1BR FMR / mo
- Anne Arundel
Anne Arundel County
$1,511 1BR FMR / mo
- Baltimore city
Baltimore city
$1,511 1BR FMR / mo
- Howard
Howard County
$1,511 1BR FMR / mo
- Caroline
Caroline County
$1,001 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Caroline is highlighted. Nearby Maryland counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Montgomery County ($2,015), Prince George's County ($2,015), Baltimore County ($1,511), Anne Arundel County ($1,511), Baltimore city ($1,511), Howard County ($1,511), Caroline County (this county) ($1,001).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,001/mo compares to Maryland salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | MD Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $137,890 | 8.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $105,320 | 11.4% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $96,830 | 12.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $84,890 | 14.2% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $77,440 | 15.5% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $74,720 | 16.1% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $65,650 | 18.3% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $63,560 | 18.9% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,180 | 21% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $43,100 | 27.9% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $40,310 | 29.8% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,090 | 33.3% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $35,700 | 33.6% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $34,310 | 35% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $31,200 | 38.5% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Caroline County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Caroline (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 36.7% overall, from $732 to $1,001. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +17.3% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑1.4% | $995 | $1,001 | $1,314 |
| FY 2025 ↑5.2% | $981 | $987 | $1,295 |
| FY 2024 ↑17.3% | $931 | $938 | $1,232 |
| FY 2023 ↑9.9% | $794 | $800 | $1,052 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.4% | $723 | $728 | $958 |
| FY 2021 ↓2.9% | $677 | $711 | $937 |
| FY 2020 | $727 | $732 | $964 |
Where Caroline County Ranks in Maryland
Caroline County is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #8 of 24 counties in Maryland. Nearest by rank: Dorchester County ($1,144), Somerset County ($1,167), Worcester County ($1,194), Kent County ($1,246), Washington County ($1,261), Caroline County (this county) ($1,314), Wicomico County ($1,378), Talbot County ($1,409), Cecil County ($1,810), St. Mary's County ($1,833), Anne Arundel County ($1,857).
Nearby Counties in Maryland
Largest counties by population in Maryland
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Caroline County? ▼
How does Caroline County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Caroline County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Caroline County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Caroline County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Caroline County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Caroline County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Caroline County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Caroline'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 $1,001 implies about $40,040/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 Caroline 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.