County FMR · HUD FY2026
Clay County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Clay County, TX - 4% below the US average.
- $925
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,136
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +3.2%
- YoY change
- -4%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Clay is the 84th most expensive of 254 counties in Texas by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #84
- most expensive of 254 in Texas (2BR)
- -1%
- vs the state average
- $37,000
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +3.2%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (41.1%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Clay County, TX. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Clay County, Texas at $925 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,136/mo and a studio is $831/mo. This is 4% lower than the national average of $959 and 1% below the Texas average of $935.
Rent increased3.2% from FY 2025 ($896), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $37,000/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Texas. Population: 10,290. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.1%, Census ACS). That's slower than Texas's statewide growth of +6.3% 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 Texas'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 4% below the US average of $959 and 1% lower than the Texas state average of $935. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$896 in FY 2025 to $925 in FY 2026 - a change of +3.2%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $925, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $37,000 per year (about $3,083/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,136 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 10,290 and a county median household income of $77,355, 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 | $823 | $831 | +$8 (+1.0%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $896 | $925 | +$29 (+3.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,102 | $1,136 | +$34 (+3.1%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,506 | $1,553 | +$47 (+3.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,709 | $1,759 | +$50 (+2.9%) |
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
$1,136 Top 37% higher than 63% 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 Texas counties
- Dallas
Dallas County
$1,648 1BR FMR / mo
- Collin
Collin County
$1,648 1BR FMR / mo
- Travis
Travis County
$1,562 1BR FMR / mo
- Tarrant
Tarrant County
$1,473 1BR FMR / mo
- Harris
Harris County
$1,323 1BR FMR / mo
- Bexar
Bexar County
$1,177 1BR FMR / mo
- Clay
Clay County
$925 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Clay is highlighted. Nearby Texas counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Dallas County ($1,648), Collin County ($1,648), Travis County ($1,562), Tarrant County ($1,473), Harris County ($1,323), Bexar County ($1,177), Clay County (this county) ($925).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $925/mo compares to Texas salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | TX Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $130,500 | 8.5% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $100,290 | 11.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $90,010 | 12.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $80,000 | 13.9% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,350 | 14.5% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,380 | 18.1% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $59,700 | 18.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $56,920 | 19.5% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $53,070 | 20.9% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $43,920 | 25.3% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,100 | 28.4% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $31,230 | 35.5% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,130 | 36.8% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $27,630 | 40.2% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,000 | 41.1% | 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 52.9% overall, from $605 to $925. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 9.3% (FY 2024).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑3.2% | $831 | $925 | $1,136 |
| FY 2025 ↑6.3% | $823 | $896 | $1,102 |
| FY 2024 ↑9.3% | $800 | $843 | $1,037 |
| FY 2023 ↑9.1% | $712 | $771 | $943 |
| FY 2022 ↑7.8% | $641 | $707 | $878 |
| FY 2021 ↑8.4% | $585 | $656 | $832 |
| FY 2020 | $525 | $605 | $784 |
Part of the Wichita Falls, TX Metro Area
Clay County is a outlying county of the Wichita Falls, TX metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Clay County ranks #3 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Wichita County ($925), Archer County ($925), Clay County (this county) ($925).
Nearby Counties in Texas
Largest counties by population in Texas
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 $925 implies about $37,000/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.