County FMR · HUD FY2026
Esmeralda County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Esmeralda County, NV - 17% above the US average.
- $1,122
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,472
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -10.0%
- YoY change
- +17%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Esmeralda is the 7th most expensive of 17 counties in Nevada by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has fallen 10.0% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #7
- most expensive of 17 in Nevada (2BR)
- -1%
- vs the state average
- $44,880
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- -10.0%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (46.1%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Esmeralda County, NV. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Esmeralda County, Nevada at $1,122 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,472/mo and a studio is $1,072/mo. This is 17% higher than the national average of $959 and 1% below the Nevada average of $1,135.
Rent decreased10.0% from FY 2025 ($1,246), declining against the trend. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $44,880/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Nevada. Population: 980.
What these rents mean for Esmeralda County
The Esmeralda 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.
Esmeralda County's 1-bedroom rent runs 17% above the US average of $959 and 1% lower than the Nevada state average of $1,135. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$1,246 in FY 2025 to $1,122 in FY 2026 - a change of -10.0%, which is unusual and suggests softening demand or revised HUD sampling.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,122, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $44,880 per year (about $3,740/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,472 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 980, 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 | $1,191 | $1,072 | $-119 (-10.0%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,246 | $1,122 | $-124 (-10.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,635 | $1,472 | $-163 (-10.0%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,291 | $2,062 | $-229 (-10.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,746 | $2,472 | $-274 (-10.0%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Where Esmeralda sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,472 Top 16% higher than 84% 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 Esmeralda 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
- Carson City
Carson City
$1,212 1BR FMR / mo
- Elko
Elko County
$1,166 1BR FMR / mo
- Esmeralda
Esmeralda County
$1,122 1BR FMR / mo
- Lyon
Lyon County
$1,076 1BR FMR / mo
- Nye
Nye County
$1,000 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Esmeralda is highlighted. Nearby Nevada counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Washoe County ($1,489), Clark County ($1,478), Carson City ($1,212), Elko County ($1,166), Esmeralda County (this county) ($1,122), Lyon County ($1,076), Nye County ($1,000).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,122/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 | 10.4% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $101,990 | 13.2% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $94,990 | 14.2% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $78,670 | 17.1% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $78,220 | 17.2% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $64,950 | 20.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,420 | 21.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $62,090 | 21.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,900 | 22.1% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $46,670 | 28.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $38,950 | 34.6% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,480 | 36.9% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,430 | 40.3% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,450 | 44.2% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,180 | 46.1% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Esmeralda County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Esmeralda (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 107.0% overall, from $542 to $1,122. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 39.8% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓10.0% | $1,072 | $1,122 | $1,472 |
| FY 2025 ↑16.2% | $1,191 | $1,246 | $1,635 |
| FY 2024 ↑39.8% | $957 | $1,072 | $1,408 |
| FY 2023 ↑29.1% | $675 | $767 | $1,009 |
| FY 2022 ↑6.6% | $520 | $594 | $782 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.8% | $484 | $557 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $465 | $542 | $714 |
Where Esmeralda County Ranks in Nevada
Esmeralda 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 #11 of 17 counties in Nevada. Nearest by rank: White Pine County ($1,315), Eureka County ($1,393), Mineral County ($1,393), Churchill County ($1,421), Esmeralda County (this county) ($1,472), Elko County ($1,530), Carson City ($1,546), Douglas County ($1,605), Clark County ($1,735).
Nearby Counties in Nevada
Largest counties by population in Nevada
Frequently Asked Questions
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What this means for renters
Treat Esmeralda'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 $1,122 implies about $44,880/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 Esmeralda 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.