County FMR · HUD FY2026
DeSoto County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for DeSoto County, FL - 11% above the US average.
- $1,060
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,209
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +26.9%
- YoY change
- +11%
- vs US avg
The verdict
DeSoto is the 18th cheapest of 67 counties in Florida by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #975 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 26.9% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #975
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #18
- cheapest of 67 in Florida (2BR)
- -18%
- vs the state average
- $42,400
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (45.4%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for DeSoto County, FL. Verify with HUD →
DeSoto County, Florida carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,060 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,209/mo and a studio is $1,053/mo. That's 11% above the national benchmark of $959 and 18% below the Florida average of $1,296.
Rent increased26.9% from FY 2025 ($835), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $42,400/year for a 1-bedroom.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Florida. Population: 34,258. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-4.6%, Census ACS). That's slower than Florida's statewide growth of +6.5% over the same period.
What these rents mean for DeSoto 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, DeSoto County's 2-bedroom of $1,209 ranks #975 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.
DeSoto County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (11% above the US average of $959), while sitting 18% below the Florida average of $1,296. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$835 in FY 2025 to $1,060 in FY 2026, a change of +26.9%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,060, the 30% rule points to $42,400/year (about $3,533/month) versus this county's median household income of $50,868. A 2-bedroom at $1,209 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $831 | $1,053 | +$222 (+26.7%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $835 | $1,060 | +$225 (+26.9%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $973 | $1,209 | +$236 (+24.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,285 | $1,663 | +$378 (+29.4%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,290 | $1,865 | +$575 (+44.6%) |
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 DeSoto 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 DeSoto sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,209 Top 31% higher than 69% 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 DeSoto compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Florida counties
- Miami-Dade
Miami-Dade County
$1,995 1BR FMR / mo
- Palm Beach
Palm Beach County
$1,901 1BR FMR / mo
- Broward
Broward County
$1,900 1BR FMR / mo
- Orange
Orange County
$1,731 1BR FMR / mo
- Hillsborough
Hillsborough County
$1,696 1BR FMR / mo
- Duval
Duval County
$1,382 1BR FMR / mo
- DeSoto
DeSoto County
$1,060 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows DeSoto is highlighted. Nearby Florida counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Miami-Dade County ($1,995), Palm Beach County ($1,901), Broward County ($1,900), Orange County ($1,731), Hillsborough County ($1,696), Duval County ($1,382), DeSoto County (this county) ($1,060).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,060/mo compares to Florida salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | FL Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $126,550 | 10.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $100,750 | 12.6% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $82,850 | 15.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $78,470 | 16.2% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,190 | 16.7% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $60,280 | 21.1% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $55,550 | 22.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $53,100 | 24% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,000 | 25.4% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $39,640 | 32.1% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $38,890 | 32.7% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,950 | 39.8% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $31,540 | 40.3% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,230 | 42.1% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,990 | 45.4% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for DeSoto County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for DeSoto (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 76.1% overall, from $602 to $1,060. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +26.9% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑26.9% | $1,053 | $1,060 | $1,209 |
| FY 2025 ↑4.4% | $831 | $835 | $973 |
| FY 2024 ↑9.3% | $785 | $800 | $905 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.2% | $716 | $732 | $827 |
| FY 2022 ↑6.2% | $653 | $664 | $757 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.8% | $622 | $625 | $738 |
| FY 2020 | $537 | $602 | $758 |
Part of the Arcadia, FL Micro Area
DeSoto County is a central county of the Arcadia, FL micropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Florida
Largest counties by population in Florida
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in DeSoto County? ▼
How does DeSoto County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does DeSoto County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in DeSoto County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in DeSoto County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in DeSoto County? ▼
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How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in DeSoto County? ▼
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What this means for renters
Treat DeSoto'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 $1,060 implies about $42,400/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 DeSoto 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.