County FMR · HUD FY2026
Catoosa County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Catoosa County, GA - 32% above the US average.
- $1,263
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,390
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -1.6%
- YoY change
- +32%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Catoosa is the 33rd most expensive of 159 counties in Georgia by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #33
- most expensive of 159 in Georgia (2BR)
- +23%
- vs the state average
- $50,520
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- -1.6%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (57.6%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Catoosa County, GA. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Catoosa County, Georgia is $1,263 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,390/mo and a studio is $1,211/mo. This is 32% higher than the national average of $959 and 23% above the Georgia average of $1,023.
Rent decreased1.6% from FY 2025 ($1,284), declining against the trend. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $50,520/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Georgia. Population: 68,052. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.1%, Census ACS). That's slower than Georgia's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Catoosa County
The Catoosa County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Georgia'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 32% above the US average of $959 and 23% higher than the Georgia state average of $1,023. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$1,284 in FY 2025 to $1,263 in FY 2026 - a change of -1.6%, which is unusual and suggests softening demand or revised HUD sampling.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,263, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $50,520 per year (about $4,210/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,390 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 68,052 and a county median household income of $72,425, 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 | $1,231 | $1,211 | $-20 (-1.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,284 | $1,263 | $-21 (-1.6%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,426 | $1,390 | $-36 (-2.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,796 | $1,734 | $-62 (-3.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,942 | $1,853 | $-89 (-4.6%) |
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 Catoosa 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.
Catoosa County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Catoosa sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,390 Top 19% higher than 81% 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 Catoosa compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Georgia counties
- Fulton
Fulton County
$1,660 1BR FMR / mo
- Gwinnett
Gwinnett County
$1,660 1BR FMR / mo
- Cobb
Cobb County
$1,660 1BR FMR / mo
- DeKalb
DeKalb County
$1,660 1BR FMR / mo
- Clayton
Clayton County
$1,660 1BR FMR / mo
- Chatham
Chatham County
$1,533 1BR FMR / mo
- Catoosa
Catoosa County
$1,263 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Catoosa is highlighted. Nearby Georgia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fulton County ($1,660), Gwinnett County ($1,660), Cobb County ($1,660), DeKalb County ($1,660), Clayton County ($1,660), Chatham County ($1,533), Catoosa County (this county) ($1,263).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,263/mo compares to Georgia salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | GA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $128,920 | 11.8% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $99,800 | 15.2% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $86,560 | 17.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $80,100 | 18.9% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $63,490 | 23.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $58,860 | 25.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,570 | 26.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $56,350 | 26.9% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $55,120 | 27.5% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,030 | 38.8% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $38,390 | 39.5% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $33,130 | 45.7% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,770 | 50.9% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $27,860 | 54.4% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $26,310 | 57.6% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Catoosa County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Catoosa (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 84.1% overall, from $686 to $1,263. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 23.9% (FY 2023), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓1.6% | $1,211 | $1,263 | $1,390 |
| FY 2025 ↑18.3% | $1,231 | $1,284 | $1,426 |
| FY 2024 ↑18.1% | $1,068 | $1,085 | $1,232 |
| FY 2023 ↑23.9% | $910 | $919 | $1,067 |
| FY 2022 ↑6.9% | $721 | $742 | $883 |
| FY 2021 ↑1.2% | $636 | $694 | $838 |
| FY 2020 | $599 | $686 | $832 |
Part of the Chattanooga, TN-GA Metro Area
Catoosa County is a central county of the Chattanooga, TN-GA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 5 other metro-area counties.
Catoosa County ranks #6 of 6 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Hamilton County ($1,263), Walker County ($1,263), Marion County ($1,263), Dade County ($1,263), Sequatchie County ($1,263), Catoosa County (this county) ($1,263).
Nearby Counties in Georgia
Largest counties by population in Georgia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Catoosa County? ▼
How does Catoosa County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Catoosa County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Catoosa County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Catoosa County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Catoosa County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Catoosa County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Catoosa County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Catoosa'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 $1,263 implies about $50,520/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 Catoosa 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.