County FMR · HUD FY2026

Chugach Census Area Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Chugach Census Area, AK - 43% above the US average.

$1,374
1-bedroom FMR
$1,506
2-bedroom FMR
+21.0%
YoY change
+43%
vs US avg

The verdict

Chugach is the 13th most expensive of 30 counties in Alaska by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #472 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 21.0% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#472
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#13
most expensive of 30 in Alaska (2BR)
+15%
vs the state average
$54,960
income to afford it (30% rule)

General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.7%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (54%); nearby Alaska counties range as much as 72% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Chugach Census Area, AK. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Chugach Census Area, Alaska is $1,374 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,506/mo and a studio is $1,038/mo. This is 43% higher than the national average of $959 and 15% above the Alaska average of $1,194.

Rent increased21.0% from FY 2025 ($1,136), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $54,960/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.

Observed renter burden: 38.9% of the 999 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 Alaska. Population: 7,000.

FMR filing desk

Area CHUGACH·CENSUS·AREA·AK·AK

Chugach Census Area, AK: $1,374/mo 1BR · #472 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA AK
  • 1BR-FMR $1,374
  • 2BR-FMR $1,506
  • RANK-MID #472
  • YOY-SURGE +21.0%
  • VSUS-HIGH +43%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +15% AK
  • INC-ROOM 19%
  • POP-SMALL 7K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Anchorage Municipa
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,237–$1,511
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Anchorage Municipality ($131 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,061 · US avg: $893
$1,038/mo
↓ 0.1% YoY -2% vs state +16% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,194 · US avg: $959
$1,374/mo
↑ 21.0% YoY +15% vs state +43% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,467 · US avg: $1,175
$1,506/mo
↑ 3.6% YoY +3% vs state +28% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,941 · US avg: $1,525
$2,094/mo
↑ 7.5% YoY +8% vs state +37% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,304 · US avg: $1,756
$2,526/mo
↑ 10.0% YoY +10% vs state +44% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,039
$1,038
$-1 (-0.1%)
1 Bedroom $1,136
$1,374
+$238 (+21.0%)
2 Bedroom $1,453
$1,506
+$53 (+3.6%)
3 Bedroom $1,948
$2,094
+$146 (+7.5%)
4 Bedroom $2,297
$2,526
+$229 (+10.0%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Chugach Census Area. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
14.1%
Affordable
Need $41,520/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
18.6%
Affordable
Need $54,960/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.4%
Affordable
Need $60,240/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
28.4%
Affordable
Need $83,760/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
34.2%
Burdened
Need $101,040/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%20.4%
Chugach Census Area 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $88,565 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Alaska rent burden →

Where Chugach sits among every US county

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

$1,506 Top 15% higher than 85% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Chugach compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Alaska counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Chugach is highlighted. Nearby Alaska counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Bethel Census Area ($1,719), Chugach Census Area (this county) ($1,374), Juneau City and Borough ($1,340), Fairbanks North Star Borough ($1,277), Anchorage Municipality ($1,243), Matanuska-Susitna Borough ($1,049), Kenai Peninsula Borough ($1,000).

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 $1,374/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Alaska BLS wages?

Occupation AK Salary Rent Burden Verdict
General & Operations Managers $120,470 13.7% Affordable
Software Developers $119,600 13.8% Affordable
Registered Nurses $110,690 14.9% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $100,300 16.4% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $81,950 20.1% Affordable
Electricians $81,860 20.1% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $76,290 21.6% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $64,890 25.4% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $61,120 27% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $50,440 32.7% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $44,760 36.8% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $39,040 42.2% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $36,940 44.6% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $34,430 47.9% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $30,560 54% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Alaska) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Chugach Census Area. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Chugach (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 26.1% overall, from $1,090 to $1,374. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 21.0% (FY 2026), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$900$1,000$1,100$1,200$1,300$1,400 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,374
Chugach Census Area 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑21.0% $1,038 $1,374 $1,506
FY 2025 ↑5.5% $1,039 $1,136 $1,453
FY 2024 ↑10.6% $989 $1,077 $1,404
FY 2023 ↓1.3% $899 $974 $1,282
FY 2022 ↑0.4% $764 $987 $1,150
FY 2021 ↓9.8% $740 $983 $1,121
FY 2020 $809 $1,090 $1,241
Total change (6yr): +26.1%
Annualized: +3.9%/yr
1 BR: $1,090 → $1,374

Where Chugach Census Area Ranks in Alaska

Chugach Census Area 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 #18 of 30 counties in Alaska. Nearest by rank: Matanuska-Susitna Borough ($1,376), Aleutians East Borough ($1,385), Yakutat City and Borough ($1,388), Hoonah-Angoon Census Area ($1,460), Petersburg Borough ($1,463), Chugach Census Area (this county) ($1,506), Nome Census Area ($1,533), Sitka City and Borough ($1,566), Ketchikan Gateway Borough ($1,625), North Slope Borough ($1,625), Anchorage Municipality ($1,631).

Matanuska-Susitna Borough
2 BR: $1,376/mo
Aleutians East Borough
2 BR: $1,385/mo
Yakutat City and Borough
2 BR: $1,388/mo
Hoonah-Angoon Census Area
2 BR: $1,460/mo
Petersburg Borough
2 BR: $1,463/mo
Chugach Census Area (this county)
2 BR: $1,506/mo
Nome Census Area
2 BR: $1,533/mo
Sitka City and Borough
2 BR: $1,566/mo
Ketchikan Gateway Borough
2 BR: $1,625/mo
North Slope Borough
2 BR: $1,625/mo
Anchorage Municipality
2 BR: $1,631/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Chugach Census Area, both outside Alaska 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 AK (FY2026).

Merced County
CA · 2 BR $1,503/mo
Hancock County
ME · 2 BR $1,501/mo
Linn County
OR · 2 BR $1,500/mo
Chelan County
WA · 2 BR $1,500/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Washington County
MD · 20.4% of income · 2 BR $1,261/mo
Allegheny County
PA · 20.4% of income · 2 BR $1,299/mo
Terrebonne Parish
LA · 20.4% of income · 2 BR $1,102/mo
Grant County
KY · 20.4% of income · 2 BR $1,155/mo

Nearby Counties in Alaska

Largest counties by population in Alaska

Showing the 8 largest of 29 other counties in Alaska.

Anchorage Municipality
1 BR: $1,243/mo Pop: 290,674
Matanuska-Susitna Borough
1 BR: $1,049/mo Pop: 108,661
Fairbanks North Star Borough
1 BR: $1,277/mo Pop: 96,299
Kenai Peninsula Borough
1 BR: $1,000/mo Pop: 59,235
Juneau City and Borough
1 BR: $1,340/mo Pop: 32,108
Bethel Census Area
1 BR: $1,719/mo Pop: 18,538
Ketchikan Gateway Borough
1 BR: $1,238/mo Pop: 13,910
Kodiak Island Borough
1 BR: $1,581/mo Pop: 13,065
View all counties in Alaska →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Chugach Census Area? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Chugach Census Area is $1,374 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,506 and a studio is $1,038.
How does Chugach Census Area rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Chugach Census Area is 43% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,374 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Chugach Census Area rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Chugach Census Area's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,506 ranks #472 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Chugach Census Area? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $54,960 ($4,580/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Chugach Census Area.
Is rent going up or down in Chugach Census Area? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Chugach Census Area increased by 21.0% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,136 to $1,374.
Which jobs can afford rent in Chugach Census Area? ▼
Based on Alaska BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like General and Operations Managers, Software Developers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,374/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Chugach Census Area over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Chugach Census Area went from $1,090 in FY 2020 to $1,374 in FY 2026, a total change of +26.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Chugach Census Area? ▼
In Chugach Census Area, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,374/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 Chugach Census Area? ▼
For Chugach Census Area, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,374/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.