County FMR · HUD FY2026
Custer County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Custer County, CO - 11% below the US average.
- $856
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,112
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +7.8%
- YoY change
- -11%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Custer is the 20th cheapest of 64 counties in Colorado by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,258 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 7.8% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #1,258
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #20
- cheapest of 64 in Colorado (2BR)
- -26%
- vs the state average
- $34,240
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.6%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (32.7%); 14 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 Custer County, CO. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Custer County, Colorado is $856 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,112/mo and a studio is $853/mo. This is 11% lower than the national average of $959 and 26% below the Colorado average of $1,161.
Rent increased7.8% from FY 2025 ($794), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $34,240/year for a 1-bedroom.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Colorado. Population: 4,885. Population grew 9.3% 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 Colorado's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Custer 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, Custer County's 2-bedroom of $1,112 ranks #1,258 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.
Custer County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (11% below the US average of $959), while sitting 26% below the Colorado average of $1,161. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$794 in FY 2025 to $856 in FY 2026, a change of +7.8%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $856, the 30% rule points to $34,240/year (about $2,853/month) versus this county's median household income of $72,700. A 2-bedroom at $1,112 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $789 | $853 | +$64 (+8.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $794 | $856 | +$62 (+7.8%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,042 | $1,112 | +$70 (+6.7%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,331 | $1,333 | +$2 (+0.2%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,667 | $1,743 | +$76 (+4.6%) |
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 Custer 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 Custer sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,112 Top 40% higher than 60% 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 Custer compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Colorado counties
- Denver
Denver County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Arapahoe
Arapahoe County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Jefferson
Jefferson County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Adams
Adams County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Douglas
Douglas County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- El Paso
El Paso County
$1,464 1BR FMR / mo
- Custer
Custer County
$856 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Custer is highlighted. Nearby Colorado counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Denver County ($1,754), Arapahoe County ($1,754), Jefferson County ($1,754), Adams County ($1,754), Douglas County ($1,754), El Paso County ($1,464), Custer County (this county) ($856).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $856/mo compares to Colorado salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | CO Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $134,540 | 7.6% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $130,340 | 7.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $96,520 | 10.6% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $96,100 | 10.7% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $90,030 | 11.4% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $73,380 | 14% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $62,090 | 16.5% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,550 | 16.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,260 | 17% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $48,070 | 21.4% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,020 | 22.3% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,270 | 27.6% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,960 | 27.8% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $35,440 | 29% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $31,390 | 32.7% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Custer County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Custer (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 51.2% overall, from $566 to $856. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.1% in FY 2021, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑7.8% | $853 | $856 | $1,112 |
| FY 2025 ↓5.8% | $789 | $794 | $1,042 |
| FY 2024 ↑12.4% | $837 | $843 | $1,107 |
| FY 2023 ↓0.3% | $745 | $750 | $987 |
| FY 2022 ↑14.5% | $747 | $752 | $990 |
| FY 2021 ↑16.1% | $652 | $657 | $862 |
| FY 2020 | $562 | $566 | $745 |
Where Custer County Ranks in Colorado
Custer 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 #20 of 64 counties in Colorado. Nearest by rank: Lincoln County ($1,016), Bent County ($1,019), Cheyenne County ($1,044), Phillips County ($1,054), Yuma County ($1,061), Kit Carson County ($1,093), Rio Grande County ($1,094), Logan County ($1,101), Custer County (this county) ($1,112), Delta County ($1,114), Washington County ($1,114), Dolores County ($1,115), Hinsdale County ($1,145), Kiowa County ($1,146), Las Animas County ($1,155), Morgan County ($1,160), Moffat County ($1,164).
Nearby Counties in Colorado
Largest counties by population in Colorado
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Custer County? ▼
How does Custer County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Custer County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Custer County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Custer County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Custer County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Custer County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Custer County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Custer County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Custer'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 $856 implies about $34,240/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 Custer 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.