County FMR · HUD FY2026
Delaware County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Delaware County, OH - 25% above the US average.
- $1,194
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,430
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +0.0%
- YoY change
- +25%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Delaware is the 8th most expensive of 88 counties in Ohio by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #535 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #535
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #8
- most expensive of 88 in Ohio (2BR)
- +37%
- vs the state average
- $47,760
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (51%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Delaware County, OH. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Delaware County, Ohio at $1,194 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,430/mo and a studio is $1,111/mo. This is 25% higher than the national average of $959 and 37% above the Ohio average of $873.
Rent increased0.0% from FY 2025 ($1,194), roughly tracking inflation. A household needs about $47,760/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Ohio. Population: 216,074. Population grew 12.3% 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 Ohio's statewide growth of +1.2% 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 $1,430 ranks #535 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
Rents run meaningfully above the national benchmark: 1-bedroom FMR is 25% higher than the US average of $959 (37% above Ohio's $873). From FY 2025 to FY 2026 the 1-bedroom schedule moved $1,194 → $1,194 (+0.0%), roughly holding the premium in place.
At $1,194/mo for a 1-bedroom, the 30% rule wants $47,760/year: still within reach of the county median income of $130,088, though a 2-bedroom at $1,430 raises the bar.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,104 | $1,111 | +$7 (+0.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,194 | $1,194 | $0 (0.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,445 | $1,430 | $-15 (-1.0%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,741 | $1,715 | $-26 (-1.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,939 | $1,927 | $-12 (-0.6%) |
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 Delaware 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 Delaware 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 Delaware compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Ohio counties
- Delaware
Delaware County
$1,194 1BR FMR / mo
- Franklin
Franklin County
$1,194 1BR FMR / mo
- Cuyahoga
Cuyahoga County
$1,058 1BR FMR / mo
- Hamilton
Hamilton 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 Delaware is highlighted. Nearby Ohio counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Delaware County (this county) ($1,194), Franklin County ($1,194), Cuyahoga County ($1,058), Hamilton County ($1,051), Montgomery County ($1,009), Summit County ($985), Lucas County ($820).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,194/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Ohio BLS wages?
| Occupation | OH Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $107,690 | 13.3% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $94,990 | 15.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $81,250 | 17.6% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,640 | 18.5% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $77,050 | 18.6% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $65,380 | 21.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $63,560 | 22.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $58,870 | 24.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,080 | 24.7% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,510 | 32.9% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,860 | 37.8% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $35,380 | 40.5% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $34,710 | 41.3% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,440 | 47.1% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,100 | 51% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
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 50.4% overall, from $794 to $1,194. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +13.5% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑0.0% | $1,111 | $1,194 | $1,430 |
| FY 2025 ↑12.1% | $1,104 | $1,194 | $1,445 |
| FY 2024 ↑13.2% | $970 | $1,065 | $1,302 |
| FY 2023 ↑13.5% | $842 | $941 | $1,163 |
| FY 2022 ↑0.2% | $730 | $829 | $1,032 |
| FY 2021 ↑4.2% | $717 | $827 | $1,031 |
| FY 2020 | $677 | $794 | $992 |
Part of the Columbus, OH Metro Area
Delaware County is a central county of the Columbus, OH metropolitan statistical area, alongside 9 other metro-area counties.
Delaware County ranks #7 of 10 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Franklin County ($1,194), Licking County ($1,194), Fairfield County ($1,194), Pickaway County ($1,194), Madison County ($1,194), Morrow County ($1,194), Delaware County (this county) ($1,194), Union County ($1,125), Perry County ($790), Hocking County ($742).
Nearby Counties in Ohio
Largest counties by population in Ohio
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Delaware County? ▼
How does Delaware County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Delaware County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Delaware County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Delaware County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Delaware County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Delaware County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Delaware County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Delaware County? ▼
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 $1,194 implies about $47,760/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.