County FMR · HUD FY2026
Clay County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Clay County, NC - 1% below the US average.
- $948
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,039
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +2.9%
- YoY change
- -1%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Clay is the 46th cheapest of 100 counties in North Carolina by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #46
- cheapest of 100 in North Carolina (2BR)
- -3%
- vs the state average
- $37,920
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +2.9%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.7%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (40.3%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Clay County, NC. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Clay County, North Carolina at $948 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,039/mo and a studio is $878/mo. This is 1% lower than the national average of $959 and 3% below the North Carolina average of $981.
Rent increased2.9% from FY 2025 ($921), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $37,920/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in North Carolina. Population: 11,186. Population grew 5.3% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's in line with North Carolina's statewide growth of +4.2% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Clay County
The Clay County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and North Carolina's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Clay County's 1-bedroom rent runs 1% below the US average of $959 and 3% lower than the North Carolina state average of $981. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$921 in FY 2025 to $948 in FY 2026 - a change of +2.9%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $948, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $37,920 per year (about $3,160/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,039 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 11,186 and a county median household income of $53,645, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $856 | $878 | +$22 (+2.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $921 | $948 | +$27 (+2.9%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,020 | $1,039 | +$19 (+1.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,357 | $1,429 | +$72 (+5.3%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,533 | $1,561 | +$28 (+1.8%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
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.
Clay County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Clay sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,039 higher than 51% 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 North Carolina counties
- Wake
Wake County
$1,596 1BR FMR / mo
- Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg County
$1,538 1BR FMR / mo
- Durham
Durham County
$1,507 1BR FMR / mo
- Guilford
Guilford County
$1,213 1BR FMR / mo
- Cumberland
Cumberland County
$1,113 1BR FMR / mo
- Forsyth
Forsyth County
$1,082 1BR FMR / mo
- Clay
Clay County
$948 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Clay is highlighted. Nearby North Carolina counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Wake County ($1,596), Mecklenburg County ($1,538), Durham County ($1,507), Guilford County ($1,213), Cumberland County ($1,113), Forsyth County ($1,082), Clay County (this county) ($948).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $948/mo compares to North Carolina salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | NC Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $131,000 | 8.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $99,190 | 11.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $81,860 | 13.9% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $80,490 | 14.1% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $58,030 | 19.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $54,070 | 21% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $49,580 | 22.9% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $49,400 | 23% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $49,390 | 23% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $39,870 | 28.5% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,530 | 28.8% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $32,630 | 34.9% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,090 | 37.8% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,760 | 39.6% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $28,230 | 40.3% | 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 53.4% overall, from $618 to $948. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.2% (FY 2025).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑2.9% | $878 | $948 | $1,039 |
| FY 2025 ↑11.2% | $856 | $921 | $1,020 |
| FY 2024 ↑10.8% | $775 | $828 | $930 |
| FY 2023 ↑3.6% | $695 | $747 | $844 |
| FY 2022 ↑8.4% | $668 | $721 | $821 |
| FY 2021 ↑7.6% | $661 | $665 | $788 |
| FY 2020 | $614 | $618 | $754 |
Where Clay County Ranks in North Carolina
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 #46 of 100 counties in North Carolina. Nearest by rank: Duplin County ($980), Harnett County ($980), Polk County ($983), Macon County ($987), Hoke County ($998), Perquimans County ($999), Avery County ($1,005), Wilson County ($1,025), Clay County (this county) ($1,039), Rockingham County ($1,040), Bertie County ($1,044), Lincoln County ($1,054), Pamlico County ($1,077), Alexander County ($1,095), Burke County ($1,095), Caldwell County ($1,095), Catawba County ($1,095).
Nearby Counties in North Carolina
Largest counties by population in North Carolina
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Clay County? ▼
How does Clay County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Clay County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Clay County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Clay County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Clay County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Clay County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Clay County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Clay'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 $948 implies about $37,920/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 Clay 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.
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.