County FMR · HUD FY2026
Clay County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Clay County, AL - 38% below the US average.
- $591
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $776
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -6.2%
- YoY change
- -38%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Clay is the 3rd cheapest of 67 counties in Alabama by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has fallen 6.2% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #1
- most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #3
- cheapest of 67 in Alabama (2BR)
- -23%
- vs the state average
- $23,640
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (6.3%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (31.1%); 13 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 Clay County, AL. Verify with HUD →
Clay County, Alabama carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $591 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $776/mo and a studio is $576/mo. That's 38% below the national benchmark of $959 and 23% below the Alabama average of $772.
Rent decreased6.2% from FY 2025 ($630), declining against the trend. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $23,640/year.
Observed renter burden: 32.3% of the 1,286 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.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 14.7%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.2% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Alabama. Population: 14,209. Population grew 6.1% 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 Alabama's statewide growth of +3.9% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area CLAY·COUNTY·AL·AL
Clay County, AL: $591/mo 1BR · #1 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA AL
- 1BR-FMR $591
- 2BR-FMR $776
- RANK-FLOOR #1
- YOY-DOWN -6.2%
- VSUS-LOW -38%
- VS-ST-LOW -23% AL
- INC-ROOM 14%
- POP-SMALL 14K
- PHOTO-NEAR Jefferson County
- VOUCH-90-110 $532–$650
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Jefferson ($564 1BR gap)
Read with: Section 8 housing guide
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $565 | $576 | +$11 (+1.9%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $630 | $591 | $-39 (-6.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $772 | $776 | +$4 (+0.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,058 | $1,024 | $-34 (-3.2%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,133 | $1,027 | $-106 (-9.4%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Clay 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.
Where Clay sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$776 higher than 0% 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 Clay compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Alabama counties
- Baldwin
Baldwin County
$1,200 1BR FMR / mo
- Jefferson
Jefferson County
$1,155 1BR FMR / mo
- Madison
Madison County
$1,136 1BR FMR / mo
- Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa County
$972 1BR FMR / mo
- Mobile
Mobile County
$919 1BR FMR / mo
- Montgomery
Montgomery County
$870 1BR FMR / mo
- Clay
Clay County
$591 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Clay is highlighted. Nearby Alabama counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Baldwin County ($1,200), Jefferson County ($1,155), Madison County ($1,136), Tuscaloosa County ($972), Mobile County ($919), Montgomery County ($870), Clay County (this county) ($591).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
With a below-average 1-bedroom at $591/mo, most of these Alabama occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.
| Occupation | AL Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $113,020 | 6.3% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $106,330 | 6.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $71,040 | 10% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $71,070 | 10% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $59,850 | 11.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $53,850 | 13.2% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $52,420 | 13.5% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,120 | 14.2% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $46,060 | 15.4% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,690 | 18.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,730 | 18.8% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,430 | 24.1% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $29,120 | 24.4% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $23,490 | 30.2% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $22,790 | 31.1% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Clay County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Clay (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 9.9% overall, from $538 to $591. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.8% (FY 2024).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓6.2% | $576 | $591 | $776 |
| FY 2025 ↓10.0% | $565 | $630 | $772 |
| FY 2024 ↑11.8% | $620 | $700 | $857 |
| FY 2023 ↑2.8% | $520 | $626 | $740 |
| FY 2022 ↑9.5% | $495 | $609 | $705 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.3% | $479 | $556 | $634 |
| FY 2020 | $482 | $538 | $612 |
Where Clay County Ranks in Alabama
Clay County 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 #3 of 67 counties in Alabama. Nearest by rank: Barbour County ($776), Bullock County ($776), Clay County (this county) ($776), Conecuh County ($776), Coosa County ($776), Covington County ($776), Crenshaw County ($776), Dale County ($776), DeKalb County ($776), Escambia County ($776), Fayette County ($776).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Clay County, both outside Alabama 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 AL (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside AL).
Nearby Counties in Alabama
Largest counties by population in Alabama
Showing the 8 largest of 66 other counties in Alabama.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Clay County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Clay County is $591 per month. A 2-bedroom is $776 and a studio is $576.
How does Clay County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Clay County is 38% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $591 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Clay County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Clay County's 2-bedroom FMR of $776 ranks #1 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the lowest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Clay County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $23,640 ($1,970/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Clay County.
Is rent going up or down in Clay County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Clay County decreased by 6.2% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $630 to $591.
Which jobs can afford rent in Clay County?
Based on Alabama BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $591/mo. 13 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Clay County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Clay County went from $538 in FY 2020 to $591 in FY 2026, a total change of +9.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Clay County?
In Clay County, the FY 2026 FMR of $591/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 Clay County?
For Clay County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($591/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Clay County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 14.7%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
What is the unemployment rate in Clay County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.2% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Clay's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $591 implies about $23,640/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Alabama counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Jefferson
- See where Clay ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.