County FMR · HUD FY2026
Cumberland County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Cumberland County, NJ - 43% above the US average.
- $1,375
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,673
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +7.8%
- YoY change
- +43%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Cumberland is the 1st cheapest of 21 counties in New Jersey by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #346 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 7.8% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #346
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #1
- cheapest of 21 in New Jersey (2BR)
- -22%
- vs the state average
- $55,000
- income to afford it (30% rule)
General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (49.6%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Cumberland County, NJ. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Cumberland County, New Jersey is $1,375 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,673/mo and a studio is $1,280/mo. This is 43% higher than the national average of $959 and 22% below the New Jersey average of $1,759.
Rent increased7.8% from FY 2025 ($1,275), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $55,000/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in New Jersey. Population: 153,588. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.3%, Census ACS). That's slower than New Jersey's statewide growth of +4.3% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Cumberland 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, Cumberland County's 2-bedroom of $1,673 ranks #346 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
Rents run meaningfully above the national benchmark: 1-bedroom FMR is 43% higher than the US average of $959 (22% below New Jersey's $1,759). From FY 2025 to FY 2026 the 1-bedroom schedule moved $1,275 → $1,375 (+7.8%), widening an already-expensive gap versus national norms.
At $1,375/mo for a 1-bedroom, the 30% rule wants $55,000/year: still within reach of the county median income of $64,499, though a 2-bedroom at $1,673 raises the bar.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,208 | $1,280 | +$72 (+6.0%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,275 | $1,375 | +$100 (+7.8%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,591 | $1,673 | +$82 (+5.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,163 | $2,303 | +$140 (+6.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,186 | $2,311 | +$125 (+5.7%) |
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 Cumberland 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 Cumberland sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,673 Top 11% higher than 89% 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 Cumberland compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other New Jersey counties
- Hudson
Hudson County
$2,458 1BR FMR / mo
- Bergen
Bergen County
$2,024 1BR FMR / mo
- Middlesex
Middlesex County
$1,978 1BR FMR / mo
- Monmouth
Monmouth County
$1,889 1BR FMR / mo
- Ocean
Ocean County
$1,889 1BR FMR / mo
- Essex
Essex County
$1,822 1BR FMR / mo
- Cumberland
Cumberland County
$1,375 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Cumberland is highlighted. Nearby New Jersey counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Hudson County ($2,458), Bergen County ($2,024), Middlesex County ($1,978), Monmouth County ($1,889), Ocean County ($1,889), Essex County ($1,822), Cumberland County (this county) ($1,375).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,375/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using New Jersey BLS wages?
| Occupation | NJ Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| General & Operations Managers | $149,990 | 11% | Affordable |
| Software Developers | $132,400 | 12.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $102,730 | 16.1% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $101,340 | 16.3% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $89,030 | 18.5% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $77,150 | 21.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $73,090 | 22.6% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,720 | 25.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $62,790 | 26.3% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,740 | 35.3% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $38,890 | 42.4% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,320 | 44.2% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $35,620 | 46.3% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,630 | 46.3% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $33,290 | 49.6% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Cumberland County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Cumberland (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 43.2% overall, from $960 to $1,375. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 8.0% (FY 2021).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑7.8% | $1,280 | $1,375 | $1,673 |
| FY 2025 ↑4.9% | $1,208 | $1,275 | $1,591 |
| FY 2024 ↑6.4% | $1,186 | $1,216 | $1,545 |
| FY 2023 ↑7.7% | $1,095 | $1,143 | $1,471 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.3% | $970 | $1,061 | $1,377 |
| FY 2021 ↑8.0% | $929 | $1,037 | $1,353 |
| FY 2020 | $853 | $960 | $1,259 |
Part of the Vineland, NJ Metro Area
Cumberland County is a central county of the Vineland, NJ metropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in New Jersey
Largest counties by population in New Jersey
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Cumberland County? ▼
How does Cumberland County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Cumberland County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Cumberland County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Cumberland County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Cumberland County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Cumberland County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Cumberland County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Cumberland County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Cumberland'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 $1,375 implies about $55,000/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 Cumberland 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.