County FMR · HUD FY2026

Ellis County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Ellis County, TX - 72% above the US average.

$1,648
1-bedroom FMR
$1,931
2-bedroom FMR
+2.6%
YoY change
+72%
vs US avg

The verdict

Ellis is the 4th most expensive of 254 counties in Texas by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #157 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#157
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#4
most expensive of 254 in Texas (2BR)
+76%
vs the state average
$65,920
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (15.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (73.2%); only 5 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Ellis County, TX. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Ellis County, Texas at $1,648 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,931/mo and a studio is $1,582/mo. This is 72% higher than the national average of $959 and 76% above the Texas average of $935.

Rent increased2.6% from FY 2025 ($1,606), outpacing inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $65,920/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

Observed renter burden: 49.1% of the 16,352 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Texas. Population: 195,509. Population grew 20.8% 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 Texas's statewide growth of +6.3% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area ELLIS·COUNTY·TX·TX

Ellis County, TX: $1,648/mo 1BR · #157 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA TX
  • 1BR-FMR $1,648
  • 2BR-FMR $1,931
  • RANK-UPPER #157
  • YOY-UP +2.6%
  • VSUS-HIGH +72%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +76% TX
  • INC-MID 21%
  • POP-MID 196K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Harris County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,483–$1,813
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Harris ($325 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $887 · US avg: $893
$1,582/mo
↑ 3.3% YoY +78% vs state +77% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $935 · US avg: $959
$1,648/mo
↑ 2.6% YoY +76% vs state +72% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,149 · US avg: $1,175
$1,931/mo
↑ 2.5% YoY +68% vs state +64% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,497 · US avg: $1,525
$2,431/mo
↑ 3.0% YoY +62% vs state +59% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,733 · US avg: $1,756
$3,091/mo
↑ 1.9% YoY +78% vs state +76% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,531
$1,582
+$51 (+3.3%)
1 Bedroom $1,606
$1,648
+$42 (+2.6%)
2 Bedroom $1,884
$1,931
+$47 (+2.5%)
3 Bedroom $2,361
$2,431
+$70 (+3.0%)
4 Bedroom $3,033
$3,091
+$58 (+1.9%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
19.8%
Affordable
Need $63,280/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
20.6%
Affordable
Need $65,920/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
24.2%
Affordable
Need $77,240/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
30.4%
Burdened
Need $97,240/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
38.7%
Burdened
Need $123,640/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%24.2%
Ellis County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $95,898 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Texas rent burden →

Where Ellis sits among every US county

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

$1,931 Top 5% higher than 95% 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 Ellis compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Texas counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Ellis is highlighted. Nearby Texas counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Ellis County (this county) ($1,648), Dallas County ($1,648), Collin County ($1,648), Travis County ($1,562), Tarrant County ($1,473), Harris County ($1,323), Bexar County ($1,177).

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 $1,648/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Texas BLS wages?

Occupation TX Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $130,500 15.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $100,290 19.7% Affordable
Registered Nurses $90,010 22% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $80,000 24.7% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $76,350 25.9% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $61,380 32.2% Stretched
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $59,700 33.1% Stretched
Electricians $56,920 34.7% Stretched
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $53,070 37.3% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $43,920 45% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $39,100 50.6% Unaffordable
Janitors & Cleaners $31,230 63.3% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $30,130 65.6% Unaffordable
Teaching Assistants $27,630 71.6% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $27,000 73.2% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Texas) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Ellis (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 50.8% overall, from $1,093 to $1,648. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.3% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600$1,800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,648
Ellis County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑2.6% $1,582 $1,648 $1,931
FY 2025 ↑7.1% $1,531 $1,606 $1,884
FY 2024 ↑13.1% $1,426 $1,500 $1,758
FY 2023 ↑15.3% $1,259 $1,326 $1,565
FY 2022 ↑1.4% $1,076 $1,150 $1,362
FY 2021 ↑3.8% $1,029 $1,134 $1,352
FY 2020 $957 $1,093 $1,314
Total change (6yr): +50.8%
Annualized: +7.1%/yr
1 BR: $1,093 → $1,648

Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metro Area

Ellis County is a central county of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metropolitan statistical area, alongside 10 other metro-area counties.

Ellis County ranks #7 of 11 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Dallas County ($1,648), Collin County ($1,648), Denton County ($1,648), Kaufman County ($1,648), Rockwall County ($1,648), Hunt County ($1,648), Ellis County (this county) ($1,648), Tarrant County ($1,473), Johnson County ($1,473), Parker County ($1,473), Wise County ($918).

Dallas County
1 BR: $1,648/mo
Collin County
1 BR: $1,648/mo
Denton County
1 BR: $1,648/mo
Kaufman County
1 BR: $1,648/mo
Rockwall County
1 BR: $1,648/mo
Hunt County
1 BR: $1,648/mo
Ellis County (this county)
1 BR: $1,648/mo
Tarrant County
1 BR: $1,473/mo
Johnson County
1 BR: $1,473/mo
Parker County
1 BR: $1,473/mo
Wise County
1 BR: $918/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Ellis County, both outside Texas so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside TX (FY2026).

Northwest Arctic Borough
AK · 2 BR $1,930/mo
Cheshire County
NH · 2 BR $1,926/mo
Bethel Census Area
AK · 2 BR $1,938/mo
Multnomah County
OR · 2 BR $1,922/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside TX).

New Castle County
DE · 24.2% of income · 2 BR $1,810/mo
Johnson County
KY · 24.2% of income · 2 BR $866/mo
Dauphin County
PA · 24.2% of income · 2 BR $1,493/mo
Guilford County
NC · 24.2% of income · 2 BR $1,330/mo

Nearby Counties in Texas

Largest counties by population in Texas

Showing the 8 largest of 253 other counties in Texas.

Harris County
1 BR: $1,323/mo Pop: 4,726,177
Dallas County
1 BR: $1,648/mo Pop: 2,604,053
Tarrant County
1 BR: $1,473/mo Pop: 2,113,854
Bexar County
1 BR: $1,177/mo Pop: 2,014,059
Travis County
1 BR: $1,562/mo Pop: 1,289,054
Collin County
1 BR: $1,648/mo Pop: 1,079,153
Denton County
1 BR: $1,648/mo Pop: 914,870
Hidalgo County
1 BR: $847/mo Pop: 873,167
View all counties in Texas →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Ellis County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Ellis County is $1,648 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,931 and a studio is $1,582.
How does Ellis County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Ellis County is 72% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,648 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Ellis County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Ellis County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,931 ranks #157 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 Ellis County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $65,920 ($5,493/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Ellis County.
Is rent going up or down in Ellis County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Ellis County increased by 2.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,606 to $1,648.
Which jobs can afford rent in Ellis County? ▼
Based on Texas BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,648/mo. 5 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Ellis County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Ellis County went from $1,093 in FY 2020 to $1,648 in FY 2026, a total change of +50.8% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Ellis County? ▼
In Ellis County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,648/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 Ellis County? ▼
For Ellis County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,648/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.