County FMR · HUD FY2026
Emporia city Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Emporia city, VA - 20% below the US average.
- $769
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,001
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +8.2%
- YoY change
- -20%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Emporia city is the 36th cheapest of 133 counties in Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 8.2% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #36
- cheapest of 133 in Virginia (2BR)
- -35%
- vs the state average
- $30,760
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +8.2%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (6.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (31.8%); 14 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 Emporia city, VA. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Emporia city, Virginia is $769 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,001/mo and a studio is $764/mo. This is 20% lower than the national average of $959 and 35% below the Virginia average of $1,182.
Rent increased8.2% from FY 2025 ($711), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $30,760/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Virginia. Population: 5,680. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+4.7%, Census ACS). That's faster than Virginia's statewide growth of +2.9% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Emporia city
The Emporia city FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Virginia'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.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 20% below the US average of $959 and 35% lower than the Virginia state average of $1,182. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$711 in FY 2025 to $769 in FY 2026 - a change of +8.2%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $769, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $30,760 per year (about $2,563/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,001 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 5,680 and a county median household income of $49,375, 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 | $707 | $764 | +$57 (+8.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $711 | $769 | +$58 (+8.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $933 | $1,001 | +$68 (+7.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,275 | $1,392 | +$117 (+9.2%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,532 | $1,679 | +$147 (+9.6%) |
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 Emporia city. 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.
Emporia city 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Emporia city sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,001 higher than 46% 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 Emporia city compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Virginia counties
- Fairfax
Fairfax County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Prince William
Prince William County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Loudoun
Loudoun County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Virginia Beach city
Virginia Beach city
$1,512 1BR FMR / mo
- Chesterfield
Chesterfield County
$1,507 1BR FMR / mo
- Henrico
Henrico County
$1,507 1BR FMR / mo
- Emporia city $769
Emporia city
$769 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Emporia city is highlighted. Nearby Virginia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fairfax County ($2,015), Prince William County ($2,015), Loudoun County ($2,015), Virginia Beach city ($1,512), Chesterfield County ($1,507), Henrico County ($1,507), Emporia city (this county) ($769).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $769/mo compares to Virginia salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | VA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $134,470 | 6.9% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $121,530 | 7.6% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $88,820 | 10.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $84,190 | 11% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $65,110 | 14.2% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,270 | 14.8% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $61,610 | 15% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,200 | 15.1% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $54,500 | 16.9% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $42,490 | 21.7% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,210 | 23.5% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,650 | 25.2% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $33,970 | 27.2% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $32,760 | 28.2% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,060 | 31.8% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Emporia city. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Emporia city (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 23.4% overall, from $623 to $769. Rent fell in 3 of the last 6 tracked years, including a 15.5% drop in FY 2024 - an unusual multi-year softening rather than the steady increases seen in most US counties.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑8.2% | $764 | $769 | $1,001 |
| FY 2025 ↓3.5% | $707 | $711 | $933 |
| FY 2024 ↑15.5% | $732 | $737 | $968 |
| FY 2023 ↑9.8% | $623 | $638 | $840 |
| FY 2022 ↓1.9% | $522 | $581 | $764 |
| FY 2021 ↓5.0% | $525 | $592 | $780 |
| FY 2020 | $553 | $623 | $820 |
Where Emporia city Ranks in Virginia
Emporia city 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 #36 of 133 counties in Virginia. Nearest by rank: Franklin County ($944), Northampton County ($949), Mecklenburg County ($950), Buckingham County ($959), Nottoway County ($975), Bath County ($977), Giles County ($984), Cumberland County ($997), Emporia city (this county) ($1,001), Greensville County ($1,001), Buena Vista city ($1,005), Lexington city ($1,005), Rockbridge County ($1,005), Surry County ($1,039), Bristol city ($1,044), Scott County ($1,044), Washington County ($1,044).
Nearby Counties in Virginia
Largest counties by population in Virginia
Frequently Asked Questions
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What this means for renters
Treat Emporia city'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 $769 implies about $30,760/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 Emporia city 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.