County FMR · HUD FY2026

Delaware County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Delaware County, NY - 8% below the US average.

$884
1-bedroom FMR
$1,033
2-bedroom FMR
+8.9%
YoY change
-8%
vs US avg

The verdict

Delaware is the 7th cheapest of 62 counties in New York by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,573 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 8.9% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#1,573
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#7
cheapest of 62 in New York (2BR)
-33%
vs the state average
$35,360
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (6.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (30.1%); 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 Delaware County, NY. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Delaware County, New York is $884 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,033/mo and a studio is $813/mo. This is 8% lower than the national average of $959 and 33% below the New York average of $1,315.

Rent increased8.9% from FY 2025 ($812), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $35,360/year for a 1-bedroom.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in New York. Population: 44,637. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.1%, Census ACS). That's slower than New York's statewide growth of +1.3% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Delaware 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, Delaware County's 2-bedroom of $1,033 ranks #1,573 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.

Delaware County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (8% below the US average of $959), while sitting 33% below the New York average of $1,315. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$812 in FY 2025 to $884 in FY 2026, a change of +8.9%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $884, the 30% rule points to $35,360/year (about $2,947/month) versus this county's median household income of $60,226. A 2-bedroom at $1,033 pushes the threshold higher.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,215 · US avg: $893
$813/mo
↑ 0.6% YoY -33% vs state -9% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,315 · US avg: $959
$884/mo
↑ 8.9% YoY -33% vs state -8% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,579 · US avg: $1,175
$1,033/mo
↑ 10.5% YoY -35% vs state -12% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,976 · US avg: $1,525
$1,437/mo
↑ 9.7% YoY -27% vs state -6% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,193 · US avg: $1,756
$1,490/mo
↑ 13.4% YoY -32% vs state -15% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $808
$813
+$5 (+0.6%)
1 Bedroom $812
$884
+$72 (+8.9%)
2 Bedroom $935
$1,033
+$98 (+10.5%)
3 Bedroom $1,310
$1,437
+$127 (+9.7%)
4 Bedroom $1,314
$1,490
+$176 (+13.4%)

Affordability Snapshot

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

Required annual income for 1 BR
$35,360
$2,947/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$41,320
$3,443/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
16.2%
Affordable
Need $32,520/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
17.6%
Affordable
Need $35,360/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.6%
Affordable
Need $41,320/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
28.6%
Affordable
Need $57,480/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
29.7%
Affordable
Need $59,600/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%20.6%
Delaware County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $60,226 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View New York rent burden →

Where Delaware sits among every US county

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

$1,033 higher than 50% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Delaware compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other New York counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Delaware is highlighted. Nearby New York counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Kings County ($2,655), Queens County ($2,655), New York County ($2,655), Bronx County ($2,655), Suffolk County ($2,379), Nassau County ($2,379), Delaware County (this county) ($884).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $884/mo compares to New York salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation NY Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $161,260 6.6% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $129,990 8.2% Affordable
Registered Nurses $105,600 10% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $101,780 10.4% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $93,050 11.4% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $82,480 12.9% Affordable
Electricians $77,460 13.7% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $66,390 16% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,520 17.5% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $47,840 22.2% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $40,840 26% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $39,920 26.6% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $37,020 28.7% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $36,600 29% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $35,270 30.1% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (New York) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Delaware County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Delaware (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 39.9% overall, from $632 to $884. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.1% (FY 2023).

$600$700$800$900 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $884
Delaware County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑8.9% $813 $884 $1,033
FY 2025 ↑1.8% $808 $812 $935
FY 2024 ↑10.4% $785 $798 $905
FY 2023 ↑11.1% $715 $723 $826
FY 2022 ↑0.2% $647 $651 $757
FY 2021 ↑2.8% $646 $650 $764
FY 2020 $628 $632 $772
Total change (6yr): +39.9%
Annualized: +5.8%/yr
1 BR: $632 → $884

Where Delaware County Ranks in New York

Delaware 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 #7 of 62 counties in New York. Nearest by rank: Chenango County ($973), Wyoming County ($973), Allegany County ($974), Chautauqua County ($975), Cattaraugus County ($1,007), Lewis County ($1,008), Delaware County (this county) ($1,033), Franklin County ($1,044), St. Lawrence County ($1,071), Steuben County ($1,081), Fulton County ($1,087), Yates County ($1,097), Montgomery County ($1,102), Broome County ($1,103), Tioga County ($1,103).

Nearby Counties in New York

Largest counties by population in New York

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Delaware County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Delaware County is $884 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,033 and a studio is $813.
How does Delaware County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Delaware County is 8% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $884 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Delaware County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Delaware County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,033 ranks #1,573 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Delaware County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $35,360 ($2,947/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Delaware County.
Is rent going up or down in Delaware County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Delaware County increased by 8.9% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $812 to $884.
Which jobs can afford rent in Delaware County?
Based on New York BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $884/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Delaware County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Delaware County went from $632 in FY 2020 to $884 in FY 2026, a total change of +39.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Delaware County?
In Delaware County, the FY 2026 FMR of $884/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 Delaware County?
For Delaware County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($884/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Delaware'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 $884 implies about $35,360/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 Delaware 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.