County FMR · HUD FY2026

Dutchess County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Dutchess County, NY - 62% above the US average.

$1,549
1-bedroom FMR
$1,979
2-bedroom FMR
+3.8%
YoY change
+62%
vs US avg

The verdict

Dutchess is the 12th most expensive of 62 counties in New York by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #126 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#126
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#12
most expensive of 62 in New York (2BR)
+18%
vs the state average
$61,960
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (52.7%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Dutchess County, NY. Verify with HUD →

Dutchess County, New York carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,549 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,979/mo and a studio is $1,364/mo. That's 62% above the national benchmark of $959 and 18% above the New York average of $1,315.

Rent increased3.8% from FY 2025 ($1,492), outpacing inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $61,960/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in New York. Population: 296,467. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.1%, Census ACS). That's in line with New York's statewide growth of +1.3% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Dutchess 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, Dutchess County's 2-bedroom of $1,979 ranks #126 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.

Dutchess County sits in the expensive tier: 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent is 62% above the US average of $959, and 18% above the New York average of $1,315. Voucher payment standards and renter budgets both feel that premium. From FY 2025 to FY 2026 the 1-bedroom schedule moved $1,492 → $1,549 (+3.8%), widening an already-expensive gap versus national norms.

At $1,549/mo for a 1-bedroom, the 30% rule wants $61,960/year: still within reach of the county median income of $97,273, though a 2-bedroom at $1,979 raises the bar.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,215 · US avg: $893
$1,364/mo
↑ 4.3% YoY +12% vs state +53% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,315 · US avg: $959
$1,549/mo
↑ 3.8% YoY +18% vs state +62% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,579 · US avg: $1,175
$1,979/mo
↑ 3.8% YoY +25% vs state +68% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,976 · US avg: $1,525
$2,511/mo
↑ 3.2% YoY +27% vs state +65% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,193 · US avg: $1,756
$2,694/mo
↑ 2.4% YoY +23% vs state +53% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,308
$1,364
+$56 (+4.3%)
1 Bedroom $1,492
$1,549
+$57 (+3.8%)
2 Bedroom $1,907
$1,979
+$72 (+3.8%)
3 Bedroom $2,433
$2,511
+$78 (+3.2%)
4 Bedroom $2,631
$2,694
+$63 (+2.4%)

Affordability Snapshot

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

Required annual income for 1 BR
$61,960
$5,163/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$79,160
$6,597/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
16.8%
Affordable
Need $54,560/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
19.1%
Affordable
Need $61,960/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
24.4%
Affordable
Need $79,160/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
31%
Burdened
Need $100,440/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
33.2%
Burdened
Need $107,760/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%24.4%
Dutchess County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $97,273 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View New York rent burden →

Where Dutchess sits among every US county

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

$1,979 Top 4% higher than 96% 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%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Below this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Dutchess compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other New York counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Dutchess 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), Dutchess County (this county) ($1,549).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,549/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using New York BLS wages?

Occupation NY Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $161,260 11.5% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $129,990 14.3% Affordable
Registered Nurses $105,600 17.6% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $101,780 18.3% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $93,050 20% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $82,480 22.5% Affordable
Electricians $77,460 24% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $66,390 28% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,520 30.7% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $47,840 38.9% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $40,840 45.5% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $39,920 46.6% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $37,020 50.2% Unaffordable
Teaching Assistants $36,600 50.8% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $35,270 52.7% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (New York) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Dutchess (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 39.3% overall, from $1,112 to $1,549. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.1% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$1,000$1,100$1,200$1,300$1,400$1,500$1,600 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,549
Dutchess County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑3.8% $1,364 $1,549 $1,979
FY 2025 ↑5.1% $1,308 $1,492 $1,907
FY 2024 ↑15.1% $1,237 $1,419 $1,825
FY 2023 ↑11.4% $1,126 $1,233 $1,583
FY 2022 ↓4.6% $1,033 $1,107 $1,412
FY 2021 ↑4.3% $1,088 $1,160 $1,467
FY 2020 $1,021 $1,112 $1,397
Total change (6yr): +39.3%
Annualized: +5.7%/yr
1 BR: $1,112 → $1,549

Part of the Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY Metro Area

Dutchess County is a central county of the Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.

Dutchess County ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Orange County ($1,549), Dutchess County (this county) ($1,549).

Orange County
1 BR: $1,549/mo
Dutchess County (this county)
1 BR: $1,549/mo

Nearby Counties in New York

Largest counties by population in New York

Kings County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 2,679,620
Queens County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 2,360,826
New York County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 1,645,867
Suffolk County
1 BR: $2,379/mo Pop: 1,524,486
Bronx County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 1,443,229
Nassau County
1 BR: $2,379/mo Pop: 1,389,160
Westchester County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 997,904
Erie County
1 BR: $1,139/mo Pop: 951,232
View all counties in New York →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Dutchess County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Dutchess County is $1,549 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,979 and a studio is $1,364.
How does Dutchess County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Dutchess County is 62% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,549 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Dutchess County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Dutchess County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,979 ranks #126 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Dutchess County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $61,960 ($5,163/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Dutchess County.
Is rent going up or down in Dutchess County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Dutchess County increased by 3.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,492 to $1,549.
Which jobs can afford rent in Dutchess 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 $1,549/mo. 8 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Dutchess County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Dutchess County went from $1,112 in FY 2020 to $1,549 in FY 2026, a total change of +39.3% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Dutchess County? ▼
In Dutchess County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,549/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 Dutchess County? ▼
For Dutchess County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,549/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Dutchess'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 $1,549 implies about $61,960/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 Dutchess 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.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

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.