County FMR · HUD FY2026
Clearwater County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Clearwater County, ID - 14% below the US average.
- $821
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,077
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +11.2%
- YoY change
- -14%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Clearwater is the 19th cheapest of 44 counties in Idaho by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 11.2% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #19
- cheapest of 44 in Idaho (2BR)
- -14%
- vs the state average
- $32,840
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +11.2%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (34.6%); 13 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Idaho counties range as much as 54% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Clearwater County, ID. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Clearwater County, Idaho at $821 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,077/mo and a studio is $815/mo. This is 14% lower than the national average of $959 and 14% below the Idaho average of $950.
Rent increased11.2% from FY 2025 ($738), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $32,840/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Idaho. Population: 8,810. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.3%, Census ACS). That's slower than Idaho's statewide growth of +12.2% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Clearwater County
The Clearwater County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Idaho'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.
Clearwater County's 1-bedroom rent runs 14% below the US average of $959 and 14% lower than the Idaho state average of $950. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$738 in FY 2025 to $821 in FY 2026 - a change of +11.2%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $821, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $32,840 per year (about $2,737/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,077 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 8,810 and a county median household income of $57,961, 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 | $733 | $815 | +$82 (+11.2%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $738 | $821 | +$83 (+11.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $968 | $1,077 | +$109 (+11.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,354 | $1,498 | +$144 (+10.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,626 | $1,807 | +$181 (+11.1%) |
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 Clearwater 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.
Clearwater County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Clearwater sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,077 higher than 56% 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 Clearwater compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Idaho counties
- Ada
Ada County
$1,381 1BR FMR / mo
- Canyon
Canyon County
$1,381 1BR FMR / mo
- Kootenai
Kootenai County
$1,302 1BR FMR / mo
- Bonneville
Bonneville County
$1,095 1BR FMR / mo
- Twin Falls
Twin Falls County
$979 1BR FMR / mo
- Bannock
Bannock County
$894 1BR FMR / mo
- Clearwater
Clearwater County
$821 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Clearwater is highlighted. Nearby Idaho counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Ada County ($1,381), Canyon County ($1,381), Kootenai County ($1,302), Bonneville County ($1,095), Twin Falls County ($979), Bannock County ($894), Clearwater County (this county) ($821).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $821/mo compares to Idaho salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | ID Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $107,900 | 9.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $86,100 | 11.4% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $76,480 | 12.9% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $66,150 | 14.9% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $64,840 | 15.2% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $60,670 | 16.2% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $59,620 | 16.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $54,020 | 18.2% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $53,260 | 18.5% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $45,210 | 21.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,420 | 25% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,360 | 27.9% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,400 | 29.5% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,840 | 33% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,450 | 34.6% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Clearwater County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Clearwater (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 38.0% overall, from $595 to $821. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.2% (FY 2026).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑11.2% | $815 | $821 | $1,077 |
| FY 2025 ↓2.0% | $733 | $738 | $968 |
| FY 2024 ↑10.7% | $726 | $753 | $989 |
| FY 2023 ↑6.9% | $675 | $680 | $895 |
| FY 2022 ↑4.8% | $632 | $636 | $837 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.0% | $603 | $607 | $800 |
| FY 2020 | $577 | $595 | $783 |
Where Clearwater County Ranks in Idaho
Clearwater 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 #19 of 44 counties in Idaho. Nearest by rank: Latah County ($1,011), Minidoka County ($1,022), Gooding County ($1,026), Cassia County ($1,028), Idaho County ($1,049), Camas County ($1,071), Payette County ($1,071), Clearwater County (this county) ($1,077), Benewah County ($1,079), Custer County ($1,079), Oneida County ($1,096), Madison County ($1,105), Washington County ($1,127), Shoshone County ($1,128), Bannock County ($1,173).
Nearby Counties in Idaho
Largest counties by population in Idaho
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Clearwater County? ▼
How does Clearwater County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Clearwater County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Clearwater County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Clearwater County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Clearwater County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Clearwater County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Clearwater County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Clearwater'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 $821 implies about $32,840/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 Clearwater 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.