County FMR · HUD FY2026
Dare County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Dare County, NC - 36% above the US average.
- $1,305
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,430
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +2.8%
- YoY change
- +36%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Dare is the 17th most expensive of 100 counties in North Carolina by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #17
- most expensive of 100 in North Carolina (2BR)
- +33%
- vs the state average
- $52,200
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +2.8%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (12%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (55.5%); only 6 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 Dare County, NC. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Dare County, North Carolina is $1,305 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,430/mo and a studio is $1,120/mo. This is 36% higher than the national average of $959 and 33% above the North Carolina average of $981.
Rent increased2.8% from FY 2025 ($1,269), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $52,200/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in North Carolina. Population: 37,160. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+5.0%, Census ACS). That's in line with North Carolina's statewide growth of +4.2% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Dare County
The Dare County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and North Carolina's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 36% above the US average of $959 and 33% higher than the North Carolina state average of $981. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$1,269 in FY 2025 to $1,305 in FY 2026 - a change of +2.8%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,305, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $52,200 per year (about $4,350/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,430 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 37,160 and a county median household income of $81,214, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,090 | $1,120 | +$30 (+2.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,269 | $1,305 | +$36 (+2.8%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,411 | $1,430 | +$19 (+1.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,874 | $1,821 | $-53 (-2.8%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,922 | $1,893 | $-29 (-1.5%) |
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 Dare 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.
Dare County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Dare sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,430 Top 17% higher than 83% 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 Dare compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other North Carolina counties
- Wake
Wake County
$1,596 1BR FMR / mo
- Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg County
$1,538 1BR FMR / mo
- Durham
Durham County
$1,507 1BR FMR / mo
- Dare
Dare County
$1,305 1BR FMR / mo
- Guilford
Guilford County
$1,213 1BR FMR / mo
- Cumberland
Cumberland County
$1,113 1BR FMR / mo
- Forsyth
Forsyth County
$1,082 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Dare is highlighted. Nearby North Carolina counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Wake County ($1,596), Mecklenburg County ($1,538), Durham County ($1,507), Dare County (this county) ($1,305), Guilford County ($1,213), Cumberland County ($1,113), Forsyth County ($1,082).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,305/mo compares to North Carolina salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | NC Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $131,000 | 12% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $99,190 | 15.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $81,860 | 19.1% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $80,490 | 19.5% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $58,030 | 27% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $54,070 | 29% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $49,580 | 31.6% | Stretched |
| Elementary School Teachers | $49,400 | 31.7% | Stretched |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $49,390 | 31.7% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $39,870 | 39.3% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,530 | 39.6% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $32,630 | 48% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,090 | 52% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,760 | 54.5% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $28,230 | 55.5% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Dare County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Dare (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 65.2% overall, from $790 to $1,305. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.8% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑2.8% | $1,120 | $1,305 | $1,430 |
| FY 2025 ↑11.6% | $1,090 | $1,269 | $1,411 |
| FY 2024 ↑15.8% | $1,000 | $1,137 | $1,280 |
| FY 2023 ↑9.7% | $915 | $982 | $1,151 |
| FY 2022 ↑5.0% | $866 | $895 | $1,054 |
| FY 2021 ↑7.8% | $837 | $852 | $976 |
| FY 2020 | $785 | $790 | $937 |
Part of the Kill Devil Hills, NC Micro Area
Dare County is a central county of the Kill Devil Hills, NC micropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in North Carolina
Largest counties by population in North Carolina
Frequently Asked Questions
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What this means for renters
Treat Dare'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 $1,305 implies about $52,200/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 Dare 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.