County FMR · HUD FY2026

Cayuga County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Cayuga County, NY - 7% below the US average.

$889
1-bedroom FMR
$1,124
2-bedroom FMR
+7.6%
YoY change
-7%
vs US avg

The verdict

Cayuga is the 16th cheapest of 62 counties in New York by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,227 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 7.6% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#1,227
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#16
cheapest of 62 in New York (2BR)
-32%
vs the state average
$35,560
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (6.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (30.2%); 14 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Cayuga County, NY. Verify with HUD →

Cayuga County, New York carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $889 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,124/mo and a studio is $884/mo. That's 7% below the national benchmark of $959 and 32% below the New York average of $1,315.

Rent increased7.6% from FY 2025 ($826), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $35,560/year for a 1-bedroom.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in New York. Population: 76,171. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-3.1%, Census ACS). That's slower than New York's statewide growth of +1.3% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Cayuga 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, Cayuga County's 2-bedroom of $1,124 ranks #1,227 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.

Cayuga County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (7% below the US average of $959), while sitting 32% below the New York average of $1,315. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$826 in FY 2025 to $889 in FY 2026, a change of +7.6%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $889, the 30% rule points to $35,560/year (about $2,963/month) versus this county's median household income of $66,583. A 2-bedroom at $1,124 pushes the threshold higher.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,215 · US avg: $893
$884/mo
↑ 7.8% YoY -27% vs state -1% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,315 · US avg: $959
$889/mo
↑ 7.6% YoY -32% vs state -7% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,579 · US avg: $1,175
$1,124/mo
↑ 5.4% YoY -29% vs state -4% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,976 · US avg: $1,525
$1,463/mo
↑ 7.3% YoY -26% vs state -4% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,193 · US avg: $1,756
$1,679/mo
↑ 5.7% YoY -23% vs state -4% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $820
$884
+$64 (+7.8%)
1 Bedroom $826
$889
+$63 (+7.6%)
2 Bedroom $1,066
$1,124
+$58 (+5.4%)
3 Bedroom $1,363
$1,463
+$100 (+7.3%)
4 Bedroom $1,588
$1,679
+$91 (+5.7%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$35,560
$2,963/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$44,960
$3,747/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Cayuga County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
15.9%
Affordable
Need $35,360/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
16%
Affordable
Need $35,560/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.3%
Affordable
Need $44,960/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
26.4%
Affordable
Need $58,520/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
30.3%
Burdened
Need $67,160/yr for 30% rule
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.

0%100%National avg22%20.3%
Cayuga County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $66,583 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View New York rent burden →

Where Cayuga sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,124 Top 39% higher than 61% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). This entry sits in this band. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

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 Cayuga compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other New York counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Cayuga is highlighted. Nearby New York counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Kings County ($2,655), Queens County ($2,655), New York County ($2,655), Bronx County ($2,655), Suffolk County ($2,379), Nassau County ($2,379), Cayuga County (this county) ($889).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $889/mo compares to New York salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation NY Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $161,260 6.6% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $129,990 8.2% Affordable
Registered Nurses $105,600 10.1% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $101,780 10.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $93,050 11.5% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $82,480 12.9% Affordable
Electricians $77,460 13.8% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $66,390 16.1% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,520 17.6% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $47,840 22.3% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $40,840 26.1% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $39,920 26.7% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $37,020 28.8% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $36,600 29.1% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $35,270 30.2% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (New York) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Cayuga County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Cayuga (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 35.3% overall, from $657 to $889. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.7% in FY 2025, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$700$800$900$1,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $889
Cayuga County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑7.6% $884 $889 $1,124
FY 2025 ↑12.7% $820 $826 $1,066
FY 2024 ↓0.1% $728 $733 $958
FY 2023 ↑8.4% $728 $734 $937
FY 2022 ↓1.2% $633 $677 $846
FY 2021 ↑4.3% $638 $685 $847
FY 2020 $603 $657 $817
Total change (6yr): +35.3%
Annualized: +5.2%/yr
1 BR: $657 → $889

Part of the Auburn, NY Micro Area

Cayuga County is a central county of the Auburn, NY micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in New York

Largest counties by population in New York

Kings County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 2,679,620
Queens County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 2,360,826
New York County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 1,645,867
Suffolk County
1 BR: $2,379/mo Pop: 1,524,486
Bronx County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 1,443,229
Nassau County
1 BR: $2,379/mo Pop: 1,389,160
Westchester County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 997,904
Erie County
1 BR: $1,139/mo Pop: 951,232
View all counties in New York →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Cayuga County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Cayuga County is $889 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,124 and a studio is $884.
How does Cayuga County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Cayuga County is 7% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $889 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Cayuga County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Cayuga County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,124 ranks #1,227 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 Cayuga County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $35,560 ($2,963/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Cayuga County.
Is rent going up or down in Cayuga County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Cayuga County increased by 7.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $826 to $889.
Which jobs can afford rent in Cayuga County? ▼
Based on New York BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $889/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Cayuga County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Cayuga County went from $657 in FY 2020 to $889 in FY 2026, a total change of +35.3% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Cayuga County? ▼
In Cayuga County, the FY 2026 FMR of $889/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 Cayuga County? ▼
For Cayuga County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($889/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Cayuga'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 $889 implies about $35,560/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 Cayuga 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.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

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.