County FMR · HUD FY2026
Elko County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Elko County, NV - 22% above the US average.
- $1,166
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,530
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +6.2%
- YoY change
- +22%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Elko is the 6th most expensive of 17 counties in Nevada by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 6.2% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #6
- most expensive of 17 in Nevada (2BR)
- +3%
- vs the state average
- $46,640
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +6.2%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (48%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Elko County, NV. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Elko County, Nevada at $1,166 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,530/mo and a studio is $1,055/mo. This is 22% higher than the national average of $959 and 3% above the Nevada average of $1,135.
Rent increased6.2% from FY 2025 ($1,098), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $46,640/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Nevada. Population: 53,600. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.1%, Census ACS). That's slower than Nevada's statewide growth of +7.5% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Elko County
The Elko County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Nevada's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Elko County's 1-bedroom rent runs 22% above the US average of $959 and 3% higher than the Nevada state average of $1,135. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$1,098 in FY 2025 to $1,166 in FY 2026 - a change of +6.2%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,166, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $46,640 per year (about $3,887/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,530 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 53,600 and a county median household income of $83,427, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $988 | $1,055 | +$67 (+6.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,098 | $1,166 | +$68 (+6.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,441 | $1,530 | +$89 (+6.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,821 | $1,933 | +$112 (+6.2%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,420 | $2,567 | +$147 (+6.1%) |
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 Elko 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.
Elko County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Elko sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,530 Top 14% higher than 86% 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 Elko compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Nevada counties
- Washoe
Washoe County
$1,489 1BR FMR / mo
- Clark
Clark County
$1,478 1BR FMR / mo
- Douglas
Douglas County
$1,291 1BR FMR / mo
- Carson City
Carson City
$1,212 1BR FMR / mo
- Elko
Elko County
$1,166 1BR FMR / mo
- Lyon
Lyon County
$1,076 1BR FMR / mo
- Nye
Nye County
$1,000 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Elko is highlighted. Nearby Nevada counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Washoe County ($1,489), Clark County ($1,478), Douglas County ($1,291), Carson City ($1,212), Elko County (this county) ($1,166), Lyon County ($1,076), Nye County ($1,000).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,166/mo compares to Nevada salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | NV Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $129,030 | 10.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $101,990 | 13.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $94,990 | 14.7% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $78,670 | 17.8% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $78,220 | 17.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $64,950 | 21.5% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,420 | 22.4% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $62,090 | 22.5% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,900 | 23% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $46,670 | 30% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $38,950 | 35.9% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,480 | 38.4% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,430 | 41.9% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,450 | 46% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,180 | 48% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Elko County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Elko (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 56.3% overall, from $746 to $1,166. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.6% in FY 2022, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑6.2% | $1,055 | $1,166 | $1,530 |
| FY 2025 ↑0.5% | $988 | $1,098 | $1,441 |
| FY 2024 ↑10.2% | $973 | $1,092 | $1,435 |
| FY 2023 ↑8.8% | $869 | $991 | $1,300 |
| FY 2022 ↑14.6% | $785 | $911 | $1,182 |
| FY 2021 ↑6.6% | $664 | $795 | $1,007 |
| FY 2020 | $626 | $746 | $961 |
Part of the Elko, NV Micro Area
Elko County is a central county of the Elko, NV micropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other micro-area county.
Elko County ranks #1 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Elko County (this county) ($1,166), Eureka County ($1,062).
Nearby Counties in Nevada
Largest counties by population in Nevada
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Elko County? ▼
How does Elko County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Elko County? ▼
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Which jobs can afford rent in Elko County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Elko County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Elko County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Elko County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Elko'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 $1,166 implies about $46,640/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 Elko 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.