County FMR · HUD FY2026

Clark County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Clark County, WA - 75% above the US average.

$1,677
1-bedroom FMR
$1,922
2-bedroom FMR
-4.2%
YoY change
+75%
vs US avg

The verdict

Clark is the 7th most expensive of 39 counties in Washington by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #157 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#157
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#7
most expensive of 39 in Washington (2BR)
+42%
vs the state average
$67,080
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (12.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (54.7%); nearby Washington counties range as much as 80% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Clark County, WA. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Clark County, Washington at $1,677 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,922/mo and a studio is $1,570/mo. This is 75% higher than the national average of $959 and 42% above the Washington average of $1,180.

Rent decreased4.2% from FY 2025 ($1,750), declining against the trend. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $67,080/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Washington. Population: 504,091. Population grew 9.7% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Washington's statewide growth of +6.1% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area CLARK·COUNTY·WA·WA

Clark County, WA: $1,677/mo 1BR · #157 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA WA
  • 1BR-FMR $1,677
  • 2BR-FMR $1,922
  • RANK-UPPER #157
  • YOY-DOWN -4.2%
  • VSUS-HIGH +75%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +42% WA
  • INC-MID 21%
  • POP-MAJOR 504K
  • PHOTO-NEAR King County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,509–$1,845
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: King ($469 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,082 · US avg: $893
$1,570/mo
↓ 3.6% YoY +45% vs state +76% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,180 · US avg: $959
$1,677/mo
↓ 4.2% YoY +42% vs state +75% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,472 · US avg: $1,175
$1,922/mo
↓ 3.8% YoY +31% vs state +64% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $2,003 · US avg: $1,525
$2,619/mo
↓ 4.4% YoY +31% vs state +72% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,351 · US avg: $1,756
$3,109/mo
↓ 3.4% YoY +32% vs state +77% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,628
$1,570
$-58 (-3.6%)
1 Bedroom $1,750
$1,677
$-73 (-4.2%)
2 Bedroom $1,997
$1,922
$-75 (-3.8%)
3 Bedroom $2,739
$2,619
$-120 (-4.4%)
4 Bedroom $3,217
$3,109
$-108 (-3.4%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
19.8%
Affordable
Need $62,800/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
21.2%
Affordable
Need $67,080/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
24.3%
Affordable
Need $76,880/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
33.1%
Burdened
Need $104,760/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
39.3%
Burdened
Need $124,360/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%24.3%
Clark County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $94,948 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Washington rent burden →

Where Clark sits among every US county

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

$1,922 Top 5% higher than 95% 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 Clark compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Washington counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Clark is highlighted. Nearby Washington counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: King County ($2,146), Snohomish County ($2,146), Thurston County ($1,682), Clark County (this county) ($1,677), Pierce County ($1,605), Kitsap County ($1,548), Spokane County ($1,193).

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 $1,677/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Washington BLS wages?

Occupation WA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $166,910 12.1% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $130,240 15.5% Affordable
Registered Nurses $112,180 17.9% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $102,640 19.6% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $99,110 20.3% Affordable
Electricians $96,530 20.8% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $96,180 20.9% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $78,010 25.8% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $63,760 31.6% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $56,140 35.8% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $49,150 40.9% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $47,210 42.6% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $43,720 46% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $38,350 52.5% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $36,820 54.7% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Washington) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Clark (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 30.1% overall, from $1,289 to $1,677. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +13.6% in FY 2022, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$1,200$1,400$1,600$1,800$2,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,677
Clark County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓4.2% $1,570 $1,677 $1,922
FY 2025 ↓1.5% $1,628 $1,750 $1,997
FY 2024 ↑10.3% $1,650 $1,776 $2,024
FY 2023 ↑6.5% $1,500 $1,610 $1,839
FY 2022 ↑13.6% $1,416 $1,512 $1,735
FY 2021 ↑3.3% $1,245 $1,331 $1,536
FY 2020 $1,192 $1,289 $1,495
Total change (6yr): +30.1%
Annualized: +4.5%/yr
1 BR: $1,289 → $1,677

Part of the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metro Area

Clark County is a central county of the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 6 other metro-area counties.

Clark County ranks #7 of 7 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Multnomah County ($1,677), Washington County ($1,677), Clackamas County ($1,677), Yamhill County ($1,677), Columbia County ($1,677), Skamania County ($1,677), Clark County (this county) ($1,677).

Multnomah County
1 BR: $1,677/mo
Washington County
1 BR: $1,677/mo
Clackamas County
1 BR: $1,677/mo
Yamhill County
1 BR: $1,677/mo
Columbia County
1 BR: $1,677/mo
Skamania County
1 BR: $1,677/mo
Clark County (this county)
1 BR: $1,677/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Clark County, both outside Washington 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 WA (FY2026).

Multnomah County
OR · 2 BR $1,922/mo
Washington County
OR · 2 BR $1,922/mo
Clackamas County
OR · 2 BR $1,922/mo
Yamhill County
OR · 2 BR $1,922/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Mercer County
NJ · 24.3% of income · 2 BR $1,950/mo
El Paso County
TX · 24.3% of income · 2 BR $1,191/mo
San Patricio County
TX · 24.3% of income · 2 BR $1,366/mo
Wilcox County
GA · 24.3% of income · 2 BR $973/mo

Nearby Counties in Washington

Largest counties by population in Washington

Showing the 8 largest of 38 other counties in Washington.

King County
1 BR: $2,146/mo Pop: 2,254,371
Pierce County
1 BR: $1,605/mo Pop: 918,993
Snohomish County
1 BR: $2,146/mo Pop: 828,337
Spokane County
1 BR: $1,193/mo Pop: 538,711
Thurston County
1 BR: $1,682/mo Pop: 294,272
Kitsap County
1 BR: $1,548/mo Pop: 275,411
Yakima County
1 BR: $1,047/mo Pop: 256,143
Whatcom County
1 BR: $1,493/mo Pop: 226,523
View all counties in Washington →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Clark County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Clark County is $1,677 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,922 and a studio is $1,570.
How does Clark County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Clark County is 75% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,677 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Clark County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Clark County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,922 ranks #157 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 Clark County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $67,080 ($5,590/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Clark County.
Is rent going up or down in Clark County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Clark County decreased by 4.2% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,750 to $1,677.
Which jobs can afford rent in Clark County? ▼
Based on Washington BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,677/mo. 8 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Clark County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Clark County went from $1,289 in FY 2020 to $1,677 in FY 2026, a total change of +30.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Clark County? ▼
In Clark County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,677/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 Clark County? ▼
For Clark County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,677/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.