County FMR · HUD FY2026

Clay County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Clay County, SD - 26% below the US average.

$708
1-bedroom FMR
$929
2-bedroom FMR
+1.6%
YoY change
-26%
vs US avg

The verdict

Clay is the 8th cheapest of 66 counties in South Dakota by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #661 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.

#661
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#8
cheapest of 66 in South Dakota (2BR)
-10%
vs the state average
$28,320
income to afford it (30% rule)

General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (6.4%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (31.4%); 14 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, SD. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Clay County, South Dakota at $708 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $929/mo and a studio is $641/mo. This is 26% lower than the national average of $959 and 10% below the South Dakota average of $784.

Rent increased1.6% from FY 2025 ($697), roughly tracking inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $28,320/year.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in South Dakota. Population: 14,953. Population grew 8.7% 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 South Dakota's statewide growth of +4.0% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area CLAY·COUNTY·SD·SD

Clay County, SD: $708/mo 1BR · #661 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA SD
  • 1BR-FMR $708
  • 2BR-FMR $929
  • RANK-MID #661
  • YOY-FLAT +1.6%
  • VSUS-LOW -26%
  • VS-ST-LOW -10% SD
  • INC-ROOM 14%
  • POP-SMALL 15K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Minnehaha County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $637–$779
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Minnehaha ($278 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $691 · US avg: $893
$641/mo
↑ 2.2% YoY -7% vs state -28% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $784 · US avg: $959
$708/mo
↑ 1.6% YoY -10% vs state -26% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $990 · US avg: $1,175
$929/mo
↑ 1.6% YoY -6% vs state -21% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,295 · US avg: $1,525
$1,292/mo
↑ 0.9% YoY -0% vs state -15% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,540 · US avg: $1,756
$1,558/mo
↑ 1.5% YoY +1% vs state -11% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $627
$641
+$14 (+2.2%)
1 Bedroom $697
$708
+$11 (+1.6%)
2 Bedroom $914
$929
+$15 (+1.6%)
3 Bedroom $1,281
$1,292
+$11 (+0.9%)
4 Bedroom $1,535
$1,558
+$23 (+1.5%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
13.1%
Affordable
Need $25,640/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
14.5%
Affordable
Need $28,320/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
19%
Affordable
Need $37,160/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
26.4%
Affordable
Need $51,680/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
31.8%
Burdened
Need $62,320/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%19%
Clay County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $58,794 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View South Dakota rent burden →

Where Clay sits among every US county

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

$929 higher than 21% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Above this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $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 Clay compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other South Dakota counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Clay is highlighted. Nearby South Dakota counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Pennington County ($1,018), Minnehaha County ($986), Lincoln County ($986), Meade County ($970), Brookings County ($781), Clay County (this county) ($708), Brown County ($708).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $708/mo, most of these South Dakota occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation SD Salary Rent Burden Verdict
General & Operations Managers $133,440 6.4% Affordable
Software Developers $87,770 9.7% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,310 11% Affordable
Registered Nurses $69,510 12.2% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $60,300 14.1% Affordable
Electricians $58,550 14.5% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $57,300 14.8% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $56,880 14.9% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $49,110 17.3% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $43,760 19.4% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,760 21.4% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $34,260 24.8% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $33,940 25% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $29,480 28.8% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $27,020 31.4% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (South Dakota) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

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 16.6% overall, from $607 to $708. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.7% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$550$600$650$700$750$800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $708
Clay County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑1.6% $641 $708 $929
FY 2025 ↓6.7% $627 $697 $914
FY 2024 ↑12.7% $666 $747 $982
FY 2023 ↑11.1% $584 $663 $873
FY 2022 ↑2.9% $546 $597 $785
FY 2021 ↓4.4% $530 $580 $765
FY 2020 $559 $607 $800
Total change (6yr): +16.6%
Annualized: +2.6%/yr
1 BR: $607 → $708

Part of the Vermillion, SD Micro Area

Clay County is a central county of the Vermillion, SD micropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Clay County, both outside South Dakota 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 SD (FY2026).

Randolph County
WV · 2 BR $929/mo
Benton County
MO · 2 BR $929/mo
Washington County
KY · 2 BR $929/mo
Wood County
WV · 2 BR $928/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Scott County
MO · 19% of income · 2 BR $930/mo
Pine County
MN · 19% of income · 2 BR $1,101/mo
Borden County
TX · 19% of income · 2 BR $1,015/mo
Burnett County
WI · 19% of income · 2 BR $974/mo

Nearby Counties in South Dakota

Largest counties by population in South Dakota

Showing the 8 largest of 65 other counties in South Dakota.

Minnehaha County
1 BR: $986/mo Pop: 197,742
Pennington County
1 BR: $1,018/mo Pop: 110,386
Lincoln County
1 BR: $986/mo Pop: 65,801
Brown County
1 BR: $708/mo Pop: 38,278
Brookings County
1 BR: $781/mo Pop: 34,631
Meade County
1 BR: $970/mo Pop: 29,970
Codington County
1 BR: $825/mo Pop: 28,402
Lawrence County
1 BR: $797/mo Pop: 26,047
View all counties in South Dakota →

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 $708 per month. A 2-bedroom is $929 and a studio is $641.
How does Clay County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Clay County is 26% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $708 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 $929 ranks #661 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the lower-rent quarter 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 $28,320 ($2,360/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 increased by 1.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $697 to $708.
Which jobs can afford rent in Clay County? ▼
Based on South Dakota BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like General and Operations Managers, Software Developers, Accountants and Auditors can afford a 1-bedroom at $708/mo. 14 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 $607 in FY 2020 to $708 in FY 2026, a total change of +16.6% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Clay County? ▼
In Clay County, the FY 2026 FMR of $708/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 ($708/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.