County FMR · HUD FY2026

Cumberland County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Cumberland County, TN - 25% below the US average.

$723
1-bedroom FMR
$942
2-bedroom FMR
-1.9%
YoY change
-25%
vs US avg

The verdict

Cumberland is the 39th cheapest of 95 counties in Tennessee by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #787 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.

#787
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#39
cheapest of 95 in Tennessee (2BR)
-22%
vs the state average
$28,920
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (31.2%); 13 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.

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

Cumberland County, Tennessee carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $723 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $942/mo and a studio is $719/mo. That's 25% below the national benchmark of $959 and 22% below the Tennessee average of $924.

Rent decreased1.9% from FY 2025 ($737), declining against the trend. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $28,920/year.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Tennessee. Population: 61,552. Population grew 6.6% 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 Tennessee's statewide growth of +5.0% 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 $942 ranks #787 most affordable of 3,145 US counties, in the lower-rent quarter of HUD counties.

This is a below-average rent market: 1-bedroom FMR is 25% under the US average of $959 and 22% below Tennessee's $924. HUD's 1-bedroom figure shifted from $737 (FY 2025) to $723 (FY 2026), a -1.9% move that deepens an already-cheap market.

A 1-bedroom at $723 needs $28,920/year under the 30% rule against a county median of $58,475, and the median household clears that line with room to spare. A 2-bedroom at $942 is the next step up.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $882 · US avg: $893
$719/mo
↓ 0.6% YoY -18% vs state -19% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $924 · US avg: $959
$723/mo
↓ 1.9% YoY -22% vs state -25% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,118 · US avg: $1,175
$942/mo
↑ 4.3% YoY -16% vs state -20% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,445 · US avg: $1,525
$1,304/mo
↑ 3.1% YoY -10% vs state -14% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,644 · US avg: $1,756
$1,354/mo
↓ 10.0% YoY -18% vs state -23% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $723
$719
$-4 (-0.6%)
1 Bedroom $737
$723
$-14 (-1.9%)
2 Bedroom $903
$942
+$39 (+4.3%)
3 Bedroom $1,265
$1,304
+$39 (+3.1%)
4 Bedroom $1,504
$1,354
$-150 (-10.0%)

Affordability Snapshot

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

Required annual income for 1 BR
$28,920
$2,410/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$37,680
$3,140/month gross

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 $28,760/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
14.8%
Affordable
Need $28,920/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
19.3%
Affordable
Need $37,680/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
26.8%
Affordable
Need $52,160/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
27.8%
Affordable
Need $54,160/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%19.3%
Cumberland County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $58,475 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Tennessee rent burden →

Where Cumberland sits among every US county

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

$942 higher than 25% of 3,145 counties

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

1-bedroom FMR vs other Tennessee counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Cumberland is highlighted. Nearby Tennessee counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Davidson County ($1,578), Rutherford County ($1,578), Williamson County ($1,578), Hamilton County ($1,263), Knox County ($1,184), Shelby County ($1,154), Cumberland County (this county) ($723).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $723/mo, most of these Tennessee occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation TN Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $117,340 7.4% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $102,850 8.4% Affordable
Registered Nurses $79,030 11% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $75,500 11.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $59,410 14.6% Affordable
Electricians $59,190 14.7% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,610 15.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $55,270 15.7% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $52,690 16.5% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $40,130 21.6% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $38,130 22.8% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $31,220 27.8% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $30,770 28.2% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $28,030 31% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $27,840 31.2% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Tennessee) 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 40.7% overall, from $514 to $723. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.6% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$400$500$600$700$800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $723
Cumberland County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓1.9% $719 $723 $942
FY 2025 ↑1.9% $723 $737 $903
FY 2024 ↑16.6% $719 $723 $881
FY 2023 ↑13.8% $616 $620 $762
FY 2022 ↑8.3% $541 $545 $695
FY 2021 ↓2.1% $500 $503 $663
FY 2020 $511 $514 $677
Total change (6yr): +40.7%
Annualized: +5.9%/yr
1 BR: $514 → $723

Part of the Crossville, TN Micro Area

Cumberland County is a central county of the Crossville, TN micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in Tennessee

Largest counties by population in Tennessee

Shelby County
1 BR: $1,154/mo Pop: 926,440
Davidson County
1 BR: $1,578/mo Pop: 709,786
Knox County
1 BR: $1,184/mo Pop: 481,406
Hamilton County
1 BR: $1,263/mo Pop: 367,193
Rutherford County
1 BR: $1,578/mo Pop: 343,727
Williamson County
1 BR: $1,578/mo Pop: 248,897
Montgomery County
1 BR: $1,094/mo Pop: 222,305
Sumner County
1 BR: $1,578/mo Pop: 196,845
View all counties in Tennessee →

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 $723 per month. A 2-bedroom is $942 and a studio is $719.
How does Cumberland County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Cumberland County is 25% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $723 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 $942 ranks #787 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the lower-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 $28,920 ($2,410/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 decreased by 1.9% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $737 to $723.
Which jobs can afford rent in Cumberland County? ▼
Based on Tennessee BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $723/mo. 13 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 $514 in FY 2020 to $723 in FY 2026, a total change of +40.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Cumberland County? ▼
In Cumberland County, the FY 2026 FMR of $723/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 ($723/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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 $723 implies about $28,920/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.

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.