County FMR · HUD FY2026

Cumberland County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Cumberland County, PA - 26% above the US average.

$1,212
1-bedroom FMR
$1,493
2-bedroom FMR
+8.8%
YoY change
+26%
vs US avg

The verdict

Cumberland is the 15th most expensive of 67 counties in Pennsylvania by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #472 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 8.8% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#472
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#15
most expensive of 67 in Pennsylvania (2BR)
+22%
vs the state average
$48,480
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (51%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Cumberland County, PA. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Cumberland County, Pennsylvania at $1,212 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,493/mo and a studio is $1,058/mo. This is 26% higher than the national average of $959 and 22% above the Pennsylvania average of $996.

Rent increased8.8% from FY 2025 ($1,114), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $48,480/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Pennsylvania. Population: 261,269. Population grew 6.9% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Pennsylvania's statewide growth of +1.5% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area CUMBERLAND·COUNTY·PA·PA

Cumberland County, PA: $1,212/mo 1BR · #472 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA PA
  • 1BR-FMR $1,212
  • 2BR-FMR $1,493
  • RANK-MID #472
  • YOY-SURGE +8.8%
  • VSUS-HIGH +26%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +22% PA
  • INC-ROOM 17%
  • POP-MAJOR 261K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Philadelphia Count
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,091–$1,333
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Philadelphia ($308 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $900 · US avg: $893
$1,058/mo
↑ 11.0% YoY +18% vs state +18% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $996 · US avg: $959
$1,212/mo
↑ 8.8% YoY +22% vs state +26% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,225 · US avg: $1,175
$1,493/mo
↑ 8.9% YoY +22% vs state +27% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,570 · US avg: $1,525
$1,920/mo
↑ 8.9% YoY +22% vs state +26% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,744 · US avg: $1,756
$1,977/mo
↑ 8.7% YoY +13% vs state +13% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $953
$1,058
+$105 (+11.0%)
1 Bedroom $1,114
$1,212
+$98 (+8.8%)
2 Bedroom $1,371
$1,493
+$122 (+8.9%)
3 Bedroom $1,763
$1,920
+$157 (+8.9%)
4 Bedroom $1,818
$1,977
+$159 (+8.7%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
14.8%
Affordable
Need $42,320/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
17%
Affordable
Need $48,480/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.9%
Affordable
Need $59,720/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
26.9%
Affordable
Need $76,800/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
27.7%
Affordable
Need $79,080/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%20.9%
Cumberland County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $85,634 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Pennsylvania rent burden →

Where Cumberland sits among every US county

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

$1,493 Top 15% higher than 85% 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 Cumberland compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Pennsylvania counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Cumberland is highlighted. Nearby Pennsylvania counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Philadelphia County ($1,520), Montgomery County ($1,520), Bucks County ($1,520), Delaware County ($1,520), Lancaster County ($1,220), Cumberland County (this county) ($1,212), Allegheny County ($1,077).

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 $1,212/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Pennsylvania BLS wages?

Occupation PA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $123,740 11.8% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $100,400 14.5% Affordable
Registered Nurses $87,610 16.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $86,350 16.8% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,330 18.8% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $74,160 19.6% Affordable
Electricians $65,400 22.2% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $60,950 23.9% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $58,540 24.8% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $43,080 33.8% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $37,560 38.7% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $35,670 40.8% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $30,550 47.6% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $30,410 47.8% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,490 51% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Pennsylvania) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

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 59.5% overall, from $760 to $1,212. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.7% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$700$800$900$1,000$1,100$1,200$1,300 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,212
Cumberland County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑8.8% $1,058 $1,212 $1,493
FY 2025 ↑9.1% $953 $1,114 $1,371
FY 2024 ↑4.7% $876 $1,021 $1,273
FY 2023 ↑15.7% $847 $975 $1,228
FY 2022 ↑9.1% $732 $843 $1,074
FY 2021 ↑1.7% $651 $773 $977
FY 2020 $621 $760 $953
Total change (6yr): +59.5%
Annualized: +8.1%/yr
1 BR: $760 → $1,212

Part of the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metro Area

Cumberland County is a central county of the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.

Cumberland County ranks #3 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Dauphin County ($1,212), Perry County ($1,212), Cumberland County (this county) ($1,212).

Dauphin County
1 BR: $1,212/mo
Perry County
1 BR: $1,212/mo
Cumberland County (this county)
1 BR: $1,212/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Cumberland County, both outside Pennsylvania 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 PA (FY2026).

Alachua County
FL · 2 BR $1,493/mo
Teller County
CO · 2 BR $1,493/mo
Gilchrist County
FL · 2 BR $1,493/mo
Polk County
FL · 2 BR $1,497/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Norton County
KS · 20.9% of income · 2 BR $877/mo
Washington County
TX · 20.9% of income · 2 BR $1,309/mo
Union County
FL · 20.9% of income · 2 BR $1,132/mo
Fleming County
KY · 20.9% of income · 2 BR $866/mo

Nearby Counties in Pennsylvania

Largest counties by population in Pennsylvania

Showing the 8 largest of 66 other counties in Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 1,593,208
Allegheny County
1 BR: $1,077/mo Pop: 1,245,310
Montgomery County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 856,399
Bucks County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 645,163
Delaware County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 575,312
Lancaster County
1 BR: $1,220/mo Pop: 553,202
Chester County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 536,474
York County
1 BR: $1,060/mo Pop: 457,051
View all counties in Pennsylvania →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Cumberland County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Cumberland County is $1,212 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,493 and a studio is $1,058.
How does Cumberland County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Cumberland County is 26% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,212 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Cumberland County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Cumberland County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,493 ranks #472 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 Cumberland County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $48,480 ($4,040/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Cumberland County.
Is rent going up or down in Cumberland County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Cumberland County increased by 8.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,114 to $1,212.
Which jobs can afford rent in Cumberland County? ▼
Based on Pennsylvania BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,212/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Cumberland County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Cumberland County went from $760 in FY 2020 to $1,212 in FY 2026, a total change of +59.5% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Cumberland County? ▼
In Cumberland County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,212/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 Cumberland County? ▼
For Cumberland County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,212/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.