County FMR · HUD FY2026
Escambia County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Escambia County, AL - 30% below the US average.
- $675
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $776
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +5.0%
- YoY change
- -30%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Escambia is the 10th cheapest of 67 counties in Alabama by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #10
- cheapest of 67 in Alabama (2BR)
- -13%
- vs the state average
- $27,000
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +5.0%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.2%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (35.5%); 13 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 Escambia County, AL. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Escambia County, Alabama is $675 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $776/mo and a studio is $576/mo. This is 30% lower than the national average of $959 and 13% below the Alabama average of $772.
Rent increased5.0% from FY 2025 ($643), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $27,000/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Alabama. Population: 36,755. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-1.7%, Census ACS). That's slower than Alabama's statewide growth of +3.9% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Escambia County
The Escambia County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Alabama'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 30% below the US average of $959 and 13% lower than the Alabama state average of $772. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$643 in FY 2025 to $675 in FY 2026 - a change of +5.0%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $675, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $27,000 per year (about $2,250/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $776 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 36,755 and a county median household income of $44,447, 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 | $578 | $576 | $-2 (-0.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $643 | $675 | +$32 (+5.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $772 | $776 | +$4 (+0.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $985 | $972 | $-13 (-1.3%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,148 | $1,203 | +$55 (+4.8%) |
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 Escambia 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.
Escambia County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Escambia sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$776 higher than 0% 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 Escambia compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Alabama counties
- Baldwin
Baldwin County
$1,200 1BR FMR / mo
- Jefferson
Jefferson County
$1,155 1BR FMR / mo
- Madison
Madison County
$1,136 1BR FMR / mo
- Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa County
$972 1BR FMR / mo
- Mobile
Mobile County
$919 1BR FMR / mo
- Montgomery
Montgomery County
$870 1BR FMR / mo
- Escambia
Escambia County
$675 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Escambia is highlighted. Nearby Alabama counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Baldwin County ($1,200), Jefferson County ($1,155), Madison County ($1,136), Tuscaloosa County ($972), Mobile County ($919), Montgomery County ($870), Escambia County (this county) ($675).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $675/mo compares to Alabama salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | AL Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $113,020 | 7.2% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $106,330 | 7.6% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $71,040 | 11.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $71,070 | 11.4% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $59,850 | 13.5% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $53,850 | 15% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $52,420 | 15.5% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,120 | 16.2% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $46,060 | 17.6% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,690 | 21.5% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,730 | 21.5% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,430 | 27.5% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $29,120 | 27.8% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $23,490 | 34.5% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $22,790 | 35.5% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Escambia County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Escambia (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 25.5% overall, from $538 to $675. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.3% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑5.0% | $576 | $675 | $776 |
| FY 2025 ↓8.8% | $578 | $643 | $772 |
| FY 2024 ↑16.3% | $642 | $705 | $857 |
| FY 2023 ↑5.8% | $560 | $606 | $740 |
| FY 2022 ↑6.7% | $530 | $573 | $705 |
| FY 2021 ↓0.2% | $479 | $537 | $634 |
| FY 2020 | $474 | $538 | $612 |
Where Escambia County Ranks in Alabama
Escambia County 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 #10 of 67 counties in Alabama. Nearest by rank: Bullock County ($776), Clay County ($776), Conecuh County ($776), Coosa County ($776), Covington County ($776), Crenshaw County ($776), Dale County ($776), DeKalb County ($776), Escambia County (this county) ($776), Fayette County ($776), Franklin County ($776), Jackson County ($776), Lamar County ($776), Marion County ($776), Marshall County ($776), Monroe County ($776), Pickens County ($776).
Nearby Counties in Alabama
Largest counties by population in Alabama
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Escambia County? ▼
How does Escambia County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Escambia County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Escambia County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Escambia County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Escambia County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Escambia County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Escambia County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Escambia'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 $675 implies about $27,000/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 Escambia 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.