County FMR · HUD FY2026

Colorado County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Colorado County, TX - 4% below the US average.

$917
1-bedroom FMR
$1,147
2-bedroom FMR
+12.7%
YoY change
-4%
vs US avg

The verdict

Colorado is the 80th most expensive of 254 counties in Texas by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 12.7% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#80
most expensive of 254 in Texas (2BR)
-2%
vs the state average
$36,680
income to afford it (30% rule)
+12.7%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (40.8%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Colorado County, TX. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Colorado County, Texas is $917 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,147/mo and a studio is $892/mo. This is 4% lower than the national average of $959 and 2% below the Texas average of $935.

Rent increased12.7% from FY 2025 ($814), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $36,680/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Texas. Population: 20,582. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-1.4%, Census ACS). That's slower than Texas's statewide growth of +6.3% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Colorado County

The Colorado 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.

Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 4% below the US average of $959 and 2% lower than the Texas state average of $935. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$814 in FY 2025 to $917 in FY 2026 - a change of +12.7%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $917, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $36,680 per year (about $3,057/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,147 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 20,582 and a county median household income of $68,554, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $887 · US avg: $893
$892/mo
↑ 12.6% YoY +1% vs state -0% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $935 · US avg: $959
$917/mo
↑ 12.7% YoY -2% vs state -4% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,149 · US avg: $1,175
$1,147/mo
↑ 13.6% YoY -0% vs state -2% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,497 · US avg: $1,525
$1,375/mo
↑ 10.3% YoY -8% vs state -10% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,733 · US avg: $1,756
$1,688/mo
↑ 11.8% YoY -3% vs state -4% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $792
$892
+$100 (+12.6%)
1 Bedroom $814
$917
+$103 (+12.7%)
2 Bedroom $1,010
$1,147
+$137 (+13.6%)
3 Bedroom $1,247
$1,375
+$128 (+10.3%)
4 Bedroom $1,510
$1,688
+$178 (+11.8%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$36,680
$3,057/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$45,880
$3,823/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
15.6%
Affordable
Need $35,680/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
16.1%
Affordable
Need $36,680/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.1%
Affordable
Need $45,880/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
24.1%
Affordable
Need $55,000/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
29.5%
Affordable
Need $67,520/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.

Colorado County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%20.1%
Colorado County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $68,554 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Texas rent burden →

Where Colorado sits among every US county

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

$1,147 Top 36% higher than 64% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Colorado compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Texas counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Colorado 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), Colorado County (this county) ($917).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $917/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 8.4% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $100,290 11% Affordable
Registered Nurses $90,010 12.2% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $80,000 13.8% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $76,350 14.4% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $61,380 17.9% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $59,700 18.4% Affordable
Electricians $56,920 19.3% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $53,070 20.7% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $43,920 25.1% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,100 28.1% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $31,230 35.2% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $30,130 36.5% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $27,630 39.8% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $27,000 40.8% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Texas) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Colorado County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Colorado (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 69.2% overall, from $542 to $917. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.5% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$500$600$700$800$900$1,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $917
Colorado County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑12.7% $892 $917 $1,147
FY 2025 ↑4.1% $792 $814 $1,010
FY 2024 ↑15.5% $776 $782 $1,027
FY 2023 ↑9.5% $672 $677 $891
FY 2022 ↑7.7% $602 $618 $813
FY 2021 ↑5.9% $555 $574 $757
FY 2020 $529 $542 $714
Total change (6yr): +69.2%
Annualized: +9.2%/yr
1 BR: $542 → $917

Where Colorado County Ranks in Texas

Colorado 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 #175 of 254 counties in Texas. Nearest by rank: Uvalde County ($1,123), Hartley County ($1,129), Sterling County ($1,133), Archer County ($1,136), Clay County ($1,136), Wichita County ($1,136), DeWitt County ($1,141), Lee County ($1,141), Colorado County (this county) ($1,147), San Jacinto County ($1,149), Concho County ($1,153), Webb County ($1,161), Blanco County ($1,167), Dallam County ($1,170), Howard County ($1,173), Matagorda County ($1,173), Crosby County ($1,175).

Nearby Counties in Texas

Largest counties by population in Texas

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Colorado County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Colorado County is $917 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,147 and a studio is $892.
How does Colorado County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Colorado County is 4% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $917 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Colorado County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $36,680 ($3,057/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Colorado County.
Is rent going up or down in Colorado County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Colorado County increased by 12.7% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $814 to $917.
Which jobs can afford rent in Colorado County?
Based on Texas BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $917/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Colorado County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Colorado County went from $542 in FY 2020 to $917 in FY 2026, a total change of +69.2% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Colorado County?
In Colorado County, the FY 2026 FMR of $917/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 Colorado County?
For Colorado County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($917/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Colorado'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 $917 implies about $36,680/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 Colorado 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.