County FMR · HUD FY2026
Clear Creek County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Clear Creek County, CO - 83% above the US average.
- $1,754
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $2,089
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -2.0%
- YoY change
- +83%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Clear Creek is the 11th most expensive of 64 counties in Colorado by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #94 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #94
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #11
- most expensive of 64 in Colorado (2BR)
- +51%
- vs the state average
- $70,160
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (15.6%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (67.1%); only 6 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 Clear Creek County, CO. Verify with HUD →
Clear Creek County, Colorado carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,754 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $2,089/mo and a studio is $1,643/mo. That's 83% above the national benchmark of $959 and 51% above the Colorado average of $1,161.
Rent decreased2.0% from FY 2025 ($1,789), declining against the trend. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $70,160/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.
Observed renter burden: 60.6% of the 787 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 11.0%, 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 3.4% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Colorado. Population: 9,403. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.2%, Census ACS). That's slower than Colorado's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area CLEAR·CREEK·COUNTY·CO·CO
Clear Creek County, CO: $1,754/mo 1BR · #94 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA CO
- 1BR-FMR $1,754
- 2BR-FMR $2,089
- RANK-UPPER #94
- YOY-FLAT -2.0%
- VSUS-HIGH +83%
- VS-ST-HIGH +51% CO
- INC-MID 22%
- POP-SMALL 9K
- PHOTO-NEAR El Paso County
- VOUCH-90-110 $1,579–$1,929
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: El Paso ($290 1BR gap)
Read with: Understanding rent burden
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,639 | $1,643 | +$4 (+0.2%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,789 | $1,754 | $-35 (-2.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $2,140 | $2,089 | $-51 (-2.4%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,794 | $2,734 | $-60 (-2.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $3,127 | $3,049 | $-78 (-2.5%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Clear Creek 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 Clear Creek sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$2,089 Top 3% higher than 97% 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 Clear Creek compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Colorado counties
- Clear Creek
Clear Creek County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Denver
Denver County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Arapahoe
Arapahoe County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Jefferson
Jefferson County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Adams
Adams County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Douglas
Douglas County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- El Paso
El Paso County
$1,464 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Clear Creek is highlighted. Nearby Colorado counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Clear Creek County (this county) ($1,754), Denver County ($1,754), Arapahoe County ($1,754), Jefferson County ($1,754), Adams County ($1,754), Douglas County ($1,754), El Paso County ($1,464).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,754/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Colorado BLS wages?
| Occupation | CO Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $134,540 | 15.6% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $130,340 | 16.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $96,520 | 21.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $96,100 | 21.9% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $90,030 | 23.4% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $73,380 | 28.7% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $62,090 | 33.9% | Stretched |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,550 | 34.2% | Stretched |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,260 | 34.9% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $48,070 | 43.8% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,020 | 45.7% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,270 | 56.5% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,960 | 56.9% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $35,440 | 59.4% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $31,390 | 67.1% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Clear Creek County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Clear Creek (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 39.2% overall, from $1,260 to $1,754. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +19.3% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓2.0% | $1,643 | $1,754 | $2,089 |
| FY 2025 ↓2.5% | $1,639 | $1,789 | $2,140 |
| FY 2024 ↑19.3% | $1,658 | $1,835 | $2,201 |
| FY 2023 ↑12.8% | $1,390 | $1,538 | $1,856 |
| FY 2022 ↑4.6% | $1,236 | $1,364 | $1,659 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.5% | $1,179 | $1,304 | $1,605 |
| FY 2020 | $1,114 | $1,260 | $1,566 |
Part of the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO Metro Area
Clear Creek County is a outlying county of the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metropolitan statistical area, alongside 9 other metro-area counties.
Clear Creek County ranks #10 of 10 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Denver County ($1,754), Arapahoe County ($1,754), Jefferson County ($1,754), Adams County ($1,754), Douglas County ($1,754), Broomfield County ($1,754), Elbert County ($1,754), Park County ($1,754), Gilpin County ($1,754), Clear Creek County (this county) ($1,754).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Clear Creek County, both outside Colorado 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 CO (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside CO).
Nearby Counties in Colorado
Largest counties by population in Colorado
Showing the 8 largest of 63 other counties in Colorado.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Clear Creek County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Clear Creek County is $1,754 per month. A 2-bedroom is $2,089 and a studio is $1,643.
How does Clear Creek County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Clear Creek County is 83% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,754 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Clear Creek County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Clear Creek County's 2-bedroom FMR of $2,089 ranks #94 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 Clear Creek County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $70,160 ($5,847/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Clear Creek County.
Is rent going up or down in Clear Creek County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Clear Creek County decreased by 2.0% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,789 to $1,754.
Which jobs can afford rent in Clear Creek County?
Based on Colorado BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,754/mo. 6 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Clear Creek County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Clear Creek County went from $1,260 in FY 2020 to $1,754 in FY 2026, a total change of +39.2% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Clear Creek County?
In Clear Creek County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,754/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 Clear Creek County?
For Clear Creek County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,754/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Clear Creek County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 11.0%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
What is the unemployment rate in Clear Creek County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.4% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Clear Creek'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 $1,754 implies about $70,160/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Colorado counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs El Paso
- See where Clear Creek 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.