County FMR · HUD FY2026

Cecil County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Cecil County, MD - 58% above the US average.

$1,520
1-bedroom FMR
$1,810
2-bedroom FMR
+0.5%
YoY change
+58%
vs US avg

The verdict

Cecil is the 11th cheapest of 24 counties in Maryland by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #220 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#220
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#11
cheapest of 24 in Maryland (2BR)
+8%
vs the state average
$60,800
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (58.5%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Cecil County, MD. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Cecil County, Maryland is $1,520 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,810/mo and a studio is $1,397/mo. This is 58% higher than the national average of $959 and 8% above the Maryland average of $1,404.

Rent increased0.5% from FY 2025 ($1,512), roughly tracking inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $60,800/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

Observed renter burden: 47.1% of the 9,920 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.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Maryland. Population: 103,876. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.8%, Census ACS). That's in line with Maryland's statewide growth of +2.8% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area CECIL·COUNTY·MD·MD

Cecil County, MD: $1,520/mo 1BR · #220 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA MD
  • 1BR-FMR $1,520
  • 2BR-FMR $1,810
  • RANK-UPPER #220
  • YOY-FLAT +0.5%
  • VSUS-HIGH +58%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +8% MD
  • INC-MID 20%
  • POP-MID 104K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Montgomery County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,368–$1,672
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Montgomery ($495 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,314 · US avg: $893
$1,397/mo
↑ 1.8% YoY +6% vs state +56% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,404 · US avg: $959
$1,520/mo
↑ 0.5% YoY +8% vs state +58% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,657 · US avg: $1,175
$1,810/mo
↑ 0.4% YoY +9% vs state +54% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $2,133 · US avg: $1,525
$2,170/mo
↓ 0.0% YoY +2% vs state +42% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,449 · US avg: $1,756
$2,423/mo
↓ 1.8% YoY -1% vs state +38% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,372
$1,397
+$25 (+1.8%)
1 Bedroom $1,512
$1,520
+$8 (+0.5%)
2 Bedroom $1,802
$1,810
+$8 (+0.4%)
3 Bedroom $2,171
$2,170
$-1 (-0.0%)
4 Bedroom $2,468
$2,423
$-45 (-1.8%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
18.4%
Affordable
Need $55,880/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
20%
Affordable
Need $60,800/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
23.8%
Affordable
Need $72,400/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
28.6%
Affordable
Need $86,800/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
31.9%
Burdened
Need $96,920/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%23.8%
Cecil County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $91,146 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Maryland rent burden →

Where Cecil sits among every US county

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

$1,810 Top 7% higher than 93% 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%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Below this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Cecil compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Maryland counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Cecil is highlighted. Nearby Maryland counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Montgomery County ($2,015), Prince George's County ($2,015), Cecil County (this county) ($1,520), Baltimore County ($1,511), Anne Arundel County ($1,511), Baltimore city ($1,511), Howard County ($1,511).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,520/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Maryland BLS wages?

Occupation MD Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $137,890 13.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $105,320 17.3% Affordable
Registered Nurses $96,830 18.8% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $84,890 21.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $77,440 23.6% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $74,720 24.4% Affordable
Electricians $65,650 27.8% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $63,560 28.7% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $57,180 31.9% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $43,100 42.3% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $40,310 45.2% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $36,090 50.5% Unaffordable
Teaching Assistants $35,700 51.1% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $34,310 53.2% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $31,200 58.5% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Maryland) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Cecil (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 50.0% overall, from $1,013 to $1,520. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +19.1% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$800$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,520
Cecil County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑0.5% $1,397 $1,520 $1,810
FY 2025 ↑4.2% $1,372 $1,512 $1,802
FY 2024 ↑19.1% $1,303 $1,451 $1,737
FY 2023 ↑13.7% $1,081 $1,218 $1,470
FY 2022 ↑3.0% $940 $1,071 $1,298
FY 2021 ↑2.7% $900 $1,040 $1,260
FY 2020 $864 $1,013 $1,226
Total change (6yr): +50.0%
Annualized: +7.0%/yr
1 BR: $1,013 → $1,520

Part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metro Area

Cecil County is a central county of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan statistical area, alongside 10 other metro-area counties.

Cecil County ranks #11 of 11 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Philadelphia County ($1,520), Montgomery County ($1,520), Bucks County ($1,520), Delaware County ($1,520), New Castle County ($1,520), Chester County ($1,520), Camden County ($1,520), Burlington County ($1,520), Gloucester County ($1,520), Salem County ($1,520), Cecil County (this county) ($1,520).

Philadelphia County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Montgomery County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Bucks County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Delaware County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
New Castle County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Chester County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Camden County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Burlington County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Gloucester County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Salem County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Cecil County (this county)
1 BR: $1,520/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Cecil County, both outside Maryland 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 MD (FY2026).

Philadelphia County
PA · 2 BR $1,810/mo
Montgomery County
PA · 2 BR $1,810/mo
Bucks County
PA · 2 BR $1,810/mo
Delaware County
PA · 2 BR $1,810/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MD).

Hyde County
NC · 23.8% of income · 2 BR $940/mo
Claiborne County
TN · 23.8% of income · 2 BR $925/mo
Prince Edward County
VA · 23.8% of income · 2 BR $1,094/mo
Lassen County
CA · 23.8% of income · 2 BR $1,279/mo

Nearby Counties in Maryland

Largest counties by population in Maryland

Showing the 8 largest of 23 other counties in Maryland.

Montgomery County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 1,056,910
Prince George's County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 957,189
Baltimore County
1 BR: $1,511/mo Pop: 850,737
Anne Arundel County
1 BR: $1,511/mo Pop: 588,109
Baltimore city
1 BR: $1,511/mo Pop: 584,548
Howard County
1 BR: $1,511/mo Pop: 332,011
Frederick County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 273,829
Harford County
1 BR: $1,511/mo Pop: 261,059
View all counties in Maryland →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Cecil County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Cecil County is $1,520 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,810 and a studio is $1,397.
How does Cecil County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Cecil County is 58% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,520 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Cecil County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Cecil County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,810 ranks #220 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Cecil County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $60,800 ($5,067/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Cecil County.
Is rent going up or down in Cecil County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Cecil County increased by 0.5% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,512 to $1,520.
Which jobs can afford rent in Cecil County? ▼
Based on Maryland BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,520/mo. 8 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Cecil County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Cecil County went from $1,013 in FY 2020 to $1,520 in FY 2026, a total change of +50.0% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Cecil County? ▼
In Cecil County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,520/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 Cecil County? ▼
For Cecil County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,520/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.