County FMR · HUD FY2026

Cowlitz County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Cowlitz County, WA - 25% above the US average.

$1,199
1-bedroom FMR
$1,451
2-bedroom FMR
+1.1%
YoY change
+25%
vs US avg

The verdict

Cowlitz is the 19th most expensive of 39 counties in Washington by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #503 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#503
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#19
most expensive of 39 in Washington (2BR)
+2%
vs the state average
$47,960
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (39.1%); nearby Washington counties range as much as 80% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Cowlitz County, WA. Verify with HUD →

Cowlitz County, Washington carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,199 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,451/mo and a studio is $1,000/mo. That's 25% above the national benchmark of $959 and 2% above the Washington average of $1,180.

Rent increased1.1% from FY 2025 ($1,186), roughly tracking inflation. A household needs about $47,960/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Washington. Population: 110,621. Population grew 6.1% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's in line with Washington's statewide growth of +6.1% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area COWLITZ·COUNTY·WA·WA

Cowlitz County, WA: $1,199/mo 1BR · #503 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA WA
  • 1BR-FMR $1,199
  • 2BR-FMR $1,451
  • RANK-MID #503
  • YOY-FLAT +1.1%
  • VSUS-HIGH +25%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +2% WA
  • INC-ROOM 20%
  • POP-MID 111K
  • PHOTO-NEAR King County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,079–$1,319
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: King ($947 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,082 · US avg: $893
$1,000/mo
↑ 3.8% YoY -8% vs state +12% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,180 · US avg: $959
$1,199/mo
↑ 1.1% YoY +2% vs state +25% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,472 · US avg: $1,175
$1,451/mo
↑ 3.3% YoY -1% vs state +23% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $2,003 · US avg: $1,525
$2,018/mo
↑ 2.6% YoY +1% vs state +32% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,351 · US avg: $1,756
$2,434/mo
↑ 3.2% YoY +4% vs state +39% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $963
$1,000
+$37 (+3.8%)
1 Bedroom $1,186
$1,199
+$13 (+1.1%)
2 Bedroom $1,404
$1,451
+$47 (+3.3%)
3 Bedroom $1,967
$2,018
+$51 (+2.6%)
4 Bedroom $2,358
$2,434
+$76 (+3.2%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
16.5%
Affordable
Need $40,000/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
19.7%
Affordable
Need $47,960/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
23.9%
Affordable
Need $58,040/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
33.2%
Burdened
Need $80,720/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
40%
Burdened
Need $97,360/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.

0%100%National avg22%23.9%
Cowlitz County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $72,932 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Washington rent burden →

Where Cowlitz sits among every US county

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

$1,451 Top 16% higher than 84% 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%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Cowlitz compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Washington counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Cowlitz is highlighted. Nearby Washington counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: King County ($2,146), Snohomish County ($2,146), Thurston County ($1,682), Clark County ($1,677), Pierce County ($1,605), Cowlitz County (this county) ($1,199), Spokane County ($1,193).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,199/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Washington BLS wages?

Occupation WA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $166,910 8.6% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $130,240 11% Affordable
Registered Nurses $112,180 12.8% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $102,640 14% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $99,110 14.5% Affordable
Electricians $96,530 14.9% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $96,180 15% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $78,010 18.4% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $63,760 22.6% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $56,140 25.6% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $49,150 29.3% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $47,210 30.5% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $43,720 32.9% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $38,350 37.5% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $36,820 39.1% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Washington) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Cowlitz (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 60.1% overall, from $749 to $1,199. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +24.5% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$700$800$900$1,000$1,100$1,200$1,300 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,199
Cowlitz County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑1.1% $1,000 $1,199 $1,451
FY 2025 ↑6.9% $963 $1,186 $1,404
FY 2024 ↑24.5% $909 $1,109 $1,341
FY 2023 ↑10.3% $750 $891 $1,122
FY 2022 ↑4.4% $707 $808 $1,055
FY 2021 ↑3.3% $676 $774 $1,020
FY 2020 $640 $749 $983
Total change (6yr): +60.1%
Annualized: +8.2%/yr
1 BR: $749 → $1,199

Part of the Longview-Kelso, WA Metro Area

Cowlitz County is a central county of the Longview-Kelso, WA metropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Cowlitz County, both outside Washington 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 WA (FY2026).

Mariposa County
CA · 2 BR $1,454/mo
Fergus County
MT · 2 BR $1,446/mo
Livingston County
MI · 2 BR $1,457/mo
Clatsop County
OR · 2 BR $1,457/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside WA).

Fulton County
GA · 23.9% of income · 2 BR $1,820/mo
DeKalb County
IL · 23.9% of income · 2 BR $1,373/mo
Lawrence County
MS · 23.9% of income · 2 BR $863/mo
Baxter County
AR · 23.9% of income · 2 BR $964/mo

Nearby Counties in Washington

Largest counties by population in Washington

Showing the 8 largest of 38 other counties in Washington.

King County
1 BR: $2,146/mo Pop: 2,254,371
Pierce County
1 BR: $1,605/mo Pop: 918,993
Snohomish County
1 BR: $2,146/mo Pop: 828,337
Spokane County
1 BR: $1,193/mo Pop: 538,711
Clark County
1 BR: $1,677/mo Pop: 504,091
Thurston County
1 BR: $1,682/mo Pop: 294,272
Kitsap County
1 BR: $1,548/mo Pop: 275,411
Yakima County
1 BR: $1,047/mo Pop: 256,143
View all counties in Washington →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Cowlitz County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Cowlitz County is $1,199 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,451 and a studio is $1,000.
How does Cowlitz County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Cowlitz County is 25% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,199 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Cowlitz County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Cowlitz County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,451 ranks #503 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Cowlitz County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $47,960 ($3,997/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Cowlitz County.
Is rent going up or down in Cowlitz County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Cowlitz County increased by 1.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,186 to $1,199.
Which jobs can afford rent in Cowlitz County? ▼
Based on Washington BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,199/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Cowlitz County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Cowlitz County went from $749 in FY 2020 to $1,199 in FY 2026, a total change of +60.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Cowlitz County? ▼
In Cowlitz County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,199/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 Cowlitz County? ▼
For Cowlitz County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,199/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

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.