County FMR · HUD FY2026
Dillingham Census Area Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Dillingham Census Area, AK - 19% above the US average.
- $1,138
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,247
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +1.3%
- YoY change
- +19%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Dillingham is the 9th cheapest of 30 counties in Alaska by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #881 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #881
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #9
- cheapest of 30 in Alaska (2BR)
- -5%
- vs the state average
- $45,520
- income to afford it (30% rule)
General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.3%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (44.7%); nearby Alaska counties range as much as 72% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Dillingham Census Area, AK. Verify with HUD →
Dillingham Census Area, Alaska carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,138 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,247/mo and a studio is $894/mo. That's 19% above the national benchmark of $959 and 5% below the Alaska average of $1,194.
Rent increased1.3% from FY 2025 ($1,123), roughly tracking inflation. A household needs about $45,520/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Alaska. Population: 4,854. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-3.9%, Census ACS). That's slower than Alaska's statewide growth of -0.6% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Dillingham Census Area
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, Dillingham Census Area's 2-bedroom of $1,247 ranks #881 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.
Rents run meaningfully above the national benchmark: 1-bedroom FMR is 19% higher than the US average of $959 (5% below Alaska's $1,194). From FY 2025 to FY 2026 the 1-bedroom schedule moved $1,123 → $1,138 (+1.3%), roughly holding the premium in place.
At $1,138/mo for a 1-bedroom, the 30% rule wants $45,520/year: still within reach of the county median income of $74,250, though a 2-bedroom at $1,247 raises the bar.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $889 | $894 | +$5 (+0.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,123 | $1,138 | +$15 (+1.3%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,243 | $1,247 | +$4 (+0.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,712 | $1,734 | +$22 (+1.3%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,965 | $2,054 | +$89 (+4.5%) |
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 Dillingham Census Area. 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 Dillingham sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,247 Top 28% higher than 72% 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 Dillingham compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Alaska counties
- Bethel
Bethel Census Area
$1,719 1BR FMR / mo
- Juneau City and
Juneau City and Borough
$1,340 1BR FMR / mo
- Fairbanks North Star
Fairbanks North Star Borough
$1,277 1BR FMR / mo
- Anchorage Municipality
Anchorage Municipality
$1,243 1BR FMR / mo
- Dillingham
Dillingham Census Area
$1,138 1BR FMR / mo
- Matanuska-Susitna
Matanuska-Susitna Borough
$1,049 1BR FMR / mo
- Kenai Peninsula
Kenai Peninsula Borough
$1,000 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Dillingham is highlighted. Nearby Alaska counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Bethel Census Area ($1,719), Juneau City and Borough ($1,340), Fairbanks North Star Borough ($1,277), Anchorage Municipality ($1,243), Dillingham Census Area (this county) ($1,138), Matanuska-Susitna Borough ($1,049), Kenai Peninsula Borough ($1,000).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,138/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Alaska BLS wages?
| Occupation | AK Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| General & Operations Managers | $120,470 | 11.3% | Affordable |
| Software Developers | $119,600 | 11.4% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $110,690 | 12.3% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $100,300 | 13.6% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $81,950 | 16.7% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $81,860 | 16.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $76,290 | 17.9% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,890 | 21% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,120 | 22.3% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $50,440 | 27.1% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $44,760 | 30.5% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $39,040 | 35% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,940 | 37% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $34,430 | 39.7% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,560 | 44.7% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Dillingham Census Area. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Dillingham (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has fallen 1.4% overall, from $1,154 to $1,138. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 19.2% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑1.3% | $894 | $1,138 | $1,247 |
| FY 2025 ↓1.7% | $889 | $1,123 | $1,243 |
| FY 2024 ↑19.2% | $903 | $1,142 | $1,282 |
| FY 2023 ↑1.6% | $884 | $958 | $1,261 |
| FY 2022 ↓9.9% | $858 | $943 | $1,234 |
| FY 2021 ↓9.3% | $897 | $1,047 | $1,277 |
| FY 2020 | $952 | $1,154 | $1,393 |
Where Dillingham Census Area Ranks in Alaska
Dillingham Census Area 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 #9 of 30 counties in Alaska. Nearest by rank: Copper River Census Area ($1,130), Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area ($1,153), Denali Borough ($1,187), Wrangell City and Borough ($1,217), Bristol Bay Borough ($1,243), Dillingham Census Area (this county) ($1,247), Kenai Peninsula Borough ($1,312), Southeast Fairbanks Census Area ($1,313), Haines Borough ($1,321), Matanuska-Susitna Borough ($1,376), Aleutians East Borough ($1,385).
Nearby Counties in Alaska
Largest counties by population in Alaska
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Dillingham Census Area? ▼
How does Dillingham Census Area rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Dillingham Census Area rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Dillingham Census Area? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Dillingham Census Area? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Dillingham Census Area? ▼
How much has rent changed in Dillingham Census Area over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Dillingham Census Area? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Dillingham Census Area? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Dillingham'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 $1,138 implies about $45,520/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 Dillingham 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.