County FMR · HUD FY2026
Cuyahoga County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Cuyahoga County, OH - 10% above the US average.
- $1,058
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,279
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +6.3%
- YoY change
- +10%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Cuyahoga is the 17th most expensive of 88 counties in Ohio by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #786 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 6.3% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #786
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #17
- most expensive of 88 in Ohio (2BR)
- +21%
- vs the state average
- $42,320
- 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 (45.2%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Cuyahoga County, OH. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Cuyahoga County, Ohio at $1,058 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,279/mo and a studio is $933/mo. This is 10% higher than the national average of $959 and 21% above the Ohio average of $873.
Rent increased6.3% from FY 2025 ($995), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $42,320/year for a 1-bedroom.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Ohio. Population: 1,256,620. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.3%, Census ACS). That's slower than Ohio's statewide growth of +1.2% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Cuyahoga 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, Cuyahoga County's 2-bedroom of $1,279 ranks #786 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
Cuyahoga County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (10% above the US average of $959), while sitting 21% above the Ohio average of $873. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$995 in FY 2025 to $1,058 in FY 2026, a change of +6.3%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,058, the 30% rule points to $42,320/year (about $3,527/month) versus this county's median household income of $62,823. A 2-bedroom at $1,279 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $881 | $933 | +$52 (+5.9%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $995 | $1,058 | +$63 (+6.3%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,208 | $1,279 | +$71 (+5.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,553 | $1,646 | +$93 (+6.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,667 | $1,760 | +$93 (+5.6%) |
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 Cuyahoga 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 Cuyahoga sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,279 Top 25% higher than 75% 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 Cuyahoga compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Ohio counties
- Franklin
Franklin County
$1,194 1BR FMR / mo
- Cuyahoga
Cuyahoga County
$1,058 1BR FMR / mo
- Hamilton
Hamilton County
$1,051 1BR FMR / mo
- Butler
Butler County
$1,051 1BR FMR / mo
- Montgomery
Montgomery County
$1,009 1BR FMR / mo
- Summit
Summit County
$985 1BR FMR / mo
- Lucas
Lucas County
$820 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Cuyahoga is highlighted. Nearby Ohio counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Franklin County ($1,194), Cuyahoga County (this county) ($1,058), Hamilton County ($1,051), Butler County ($1,051), Montgomery County ($1,009), Summit County ($985), Lucas County ($820).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,058/mo compares to Ohio salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | OH Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $107,690 | 11.8% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $94,990 | 13.4% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $81,250 | 15.6% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,640 | 16.4% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $77,050 | 16.5% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $65,380 | 19.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $63,560 | 20% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $58,870 | 21.6% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,080 | 21.9% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,510 | 29.2% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,860 | 33.5% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $35,380 | 35.9% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $34,710 | 36.6% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,440 | 41.7% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,100 | 45.2% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Cuyahoga County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Cuyahoga (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 53.1% overall, from $691 to $1,058. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.0% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑6.3% | $933 | $1,058 | $1,279 |
| FY 2025 ↑9.0% | $881 | $995 | $1,208 |
| FY 2024 ↑11.3% | $811 | $913 | $1,108 |
| FY 2023 ↑12.0% | $719 | $820 | $998 |
| FY 2022 ↑3.8% | $632 | $732 | $893 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.0% | $599 | $705 | $865 |
| FY 2020 | $585 | $691 | $849 |
Part of the Cleveland, OH Metro Area
Cuyahoga County is a central county of the Cleveland, OH metropolitan statistical area, alongside 5 other metro-area counties.
Cuyahoga County ranks #5 of 6 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Lorain County ($1,058), Lake County ($1,058), Medina County ($1,058), Geauga County ($1,058), Cuyahoga County (this county) ($1,058), Ashtabula County ($840).
Nearby Counties in Ohio
Largest counties by population in Ohio
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Cuyahoga County? ▼
How does Cuyahoga County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Cuyahoga County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Cuyahoga County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Cuyahoga County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Cuyahoga County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Cuyahoga County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Cuyahoga County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Cuyahoga County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Cuyahoga'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 $1,058 implies about $42,320/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 Cuyahoga 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.