County FMR · HUD FY2026
Coles County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Coles County, IL - 21% below the US average.
- $759
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $965
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +10.2%
- YoY change
- -21%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Coles is the 50th most expensive of 102 counties in Illinois by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 10.2% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #50
- most expensive of 102 in Illinois (2BR)
- -11%
- vs the state average
- $30,360
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +10.2%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (28.6%); 15 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 Coles County, IL. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Coles County, Illinois is $759 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $965/mo and a studio is $665/mo. This is 21% lower than the national average of $959 and 11% below the Illinois average of $854.
Rent increased10.2% from FY 2025 ($689), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $30,360/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Illinois. Population: 47,076. Population declined 9.8% over the past five years (Census ACS), a trend that can ease rental-market pressure over time even as FMR reflects recent rent levels. That's slower than Illinois's statewide growth of -1.0% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Coles County
The Coles County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Illinois'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.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 21% below the US average of $959 and 11% lower than the Illinois state average of $854. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$689 in FY 2025 to $759 in FY 2026 - a change of +10.2%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $759, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $30,360 per year (about $2,530/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $965 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 47,076 and a county median household income of $56,040, 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 | $614 | $665 | +$51 (+8.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $689 | $759 | +$70 (+10.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $895 | $965 | +$70 (+7.8%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,188 | $1,261 | +$73 (+6.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,269 | $1,348 | +$79 (+6.2%) |
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 Coles 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.
Coles County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Coles sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$965 higher than 31% 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 Coles compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Illinois counties
- Cook
Cook County
$1,581 1BR FMR / mo
- DuPage
DuPage County
$1,581 1BR FMR / mo
- Lake
Lake County
$1,581 1BR FMR / mo
- Will
Will County
$1,581 1BR FMR / mo
- Kane
Kane County
$1,581 1BR FMR / mo
- McHenry
McHenry County
$1,581 1BR FMR / mo
- Coles
Coles County
$759 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Coles is highlighted. Nearby Illinois counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Cook County ($1,581), DuPage County ($1,581), Lake County ($1,581), Will County ($1,581), Kane County ($1,581), McHenry County ($1,581), Coles County (this county) ($759).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $759/mo compares to Illinois salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | IL Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $127,770 | 7.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $101,430 | 9% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $101,530 | 9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $96,360 | 9.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $86,410 | 10.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $79,300 | 11.5% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $64,160 | 14.2% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $62,290 | 14.6% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,790 | 15.2% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $44,910 | 20.3% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $44,610 | 20.4% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,010 | 24.6% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $35,780 | 25.5% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $34,490 | 26.4% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $31,900 | 28.6% | Affordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Coles County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Coles (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 33.2% overall, from $570 to $759. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.2% (FY 2026).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑10.2% | $665 | $759 | $965 |
| FY 2025 ↑6.8% | $614 | $689 | $895 |
| FY 2024 ↑5.0% | $575 | $645 | $848 |
| FY 2023 ↑1.8% | $540 | $614 | $808 |
| FY 2022 ↑8.8% | $527 | $603 | $793 |
| FY 2021 ↓2.8% | $482 | $554 | $730 |
| FY 2020 | $500 | $570 | $741 |
Part of the Charleston-Mattoon, IL Micro Area
Coles County is a central county of the Charleston-Mattoon, IL micropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Illinois
Largest counties by population in Illinois
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Coles County? ▼
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How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Coles County? ▼
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What this means for renters
Treat Coles'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 $759 implies about $30,360/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 Coles 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.