County FMR · HUD FY2026
Colusa County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Colusa County, CA - 4% above the US average.
- $995
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,306
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +8.0%
- YoY change
- +4%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Colusa is the 5th cheapest of 58 counties in California by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #755 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 8.0% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #755
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #5
- cheapest of 58 in California (2BR)
- -40%
- vs the state average
- $39,800
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (32.3%); nearby California counties range as much as 68% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Colusa County, CA. Verify with HUD →
Colusa County, California carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $995 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,306/mo and a studio is $989/mo. That's 4% above the national benchmark of $959 and 40% below the California average of $1,647.
Rent increased8.0% from FY 2025 ($921), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $39,800/year for a 1-bedroom.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in California. Population: 21,811. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.0%, Census ACS). That's faster than California's statewide growth of +0.2% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Colusa County
HUD publishes one FMR schedule per FMR area (often the county). Local housing authorities use it as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard baseline. See how FMR is calculated.
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Colusa County's 2-bedroom of $1,306 ranks #755 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
Colusa County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (4% above the US average of $959), while sitting 40% below the California average of $1,647. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$921 in FY 2025 to $995 in FY 2026, a change of +8.0%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $995, the 30% rule points to $39,800/year (about $3,317/month) versus this county's median household income of $75,149. A 2-bedroom at $1,306 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $915 | $989 | +$74 (+8.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $921 | $995 | +$74 (+8.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,208 | $1,306 | +$98 (+8.1%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,625 | $1,723 | +$98 (+6.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,631 | $1,729 | +$98 (+6.0%) |
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 Colusa 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 Colusa sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,306 Top 24% higher than 76% 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 Colusa compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other California counties
- Santa Clara
Santa Clara County
$2,982 1BR FMR / mo
- Orange
Orange County
$2,746 1BR FMR / mo
- San Diego
San Diego County
$2,459 1BR FMR / mo
- Los Angeles
Los Angeles County
$2,085 1BR FMR / mo
- Riverside
Riverside County
$1,777 1BR FMR / mo
- San Bernardino
San Bernardino County
$1,777 1BR FMR / mo
- Colusa $995
Colusa County
$995 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Colusa is highlighted. Nearby California counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Santa Clara County ($2,982), Orange County ($2,746), San Diego County ($2,459), Los Angeles County ($2,085), Riverside County ($1,777), San Bernardino County ($1,777), Colusa County (this county) ($995).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $995/mo compares to California salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | CA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $170,910 | 7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $140,330 | 8.5% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $125,240 | 9.5% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $115,400 | 10.3% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $98,190 | 12.2% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $96,360 | 12.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $76,540 | 15.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $72,960 | 16.4% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,950 | 19.9% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $49,640 | 24.1% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $47,790 | 25% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $45,460 | 26.3% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $38,640 | 30.9% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $37,250 | 32.1% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $37,010 | 32.3% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Colusa County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Colusa (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 39.7% overall, from $712 to $995. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.1% (FY 2024).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑8.0% | $989 | $995 | $1,306 |
| FY 2025 ↑11.1% | $915 | $921 | $1,208 |
| FY 2024 ↑11.1% | $823 | $829 | $1,089 |
| FY 2023 ↑4.0% | $741 | $746 | $982 |
| FY 2022 ↓2.2% | $713 | $717 | $944 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.9% | $654 | $733 | $966 |
| FY 2020 | $634 | $712 | $938 |
Where Colusa County Ranks in California
Colusa 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 #5 of 58 counties in California. Nearest by rank: Modoc County ($1,108), Trinity County ($1,202), Siskiyou County ($1,249), Lassen County ($1,279), Colusa County (this county) ($1,306), Glenn County ($1,362), Imperial County ($1,362), Tehama County ($1,362), Del Norte County ($1,370), Madera County ($1,376), Plumas County ($1,411), Mariposa County ($1,454), Kings County ($1,469).
Nearby Counties in California
Largest counties by population in California
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Colusa County? ▼
How does Colusa County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Colusa County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Colusa County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Colusa County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Colusa County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Colusa County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Colusa County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Colusa County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Colusa'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 $995 implies about $39,800/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 Colusa 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.