County FMR · HUD FY2026
Essex County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Essex County, VA - 5% below the US average.
- $912
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,113
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +11.9%
- YoY change
- -5%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Essex is the 53rd cheapest of 133 counties in Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,258 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 11.9% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #1,258
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #53
- cheapest of 133 in Virginia (2BR)
- -23%
- vs the state average
- $36,480
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (37.7%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Essex County, VA. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Essex County, Virginia is $912 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,113/mo and a studio is $907/mo. This is 5% lower than the national average of $959 and 23% below the Virginia average of $1,182.
Rent increased11.9% from FY 2025 ($815), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $36,480/year for a 1-bedroom.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Virginia. Population: 10,602. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-3.9%, Census ACS). That's slower than Virginia's statewide growth of +2.9% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Essex County
HUD publishes one FMR schedule per FMR area (often the county). Local housing authorities use it as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard baseline. See how FMR is calculated.
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Essex County's 2-bedroom of $1,113 ranks #1,258 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.
Essex County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (5% below the US average of $959), while sitting 23% below the Virginia average of $1,182. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$815 in FY 2025 to $912 in FY 2026, a change of +11.9%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $912, the 30% rule points to $36,480/year (about $3,040/month) versus this county's median household income of $56,481. A 2-bedroom at $1,113 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $810 | $907 | +$97 (+12.0%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $815 | $912 | +$97 (+11.9%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,006 | $1,113 | +$107 (+10.6%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,246 | $1,341 | +$95 (+7.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,438 | $1,556 | +$118 (+8.2%) |
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 Essex 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.
Where Essex sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,113 Top 40% higher than 60% 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 Essex 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
- Essex
Essex County
$912 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Essex 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), Essex County (this county) ($912).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $912/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 | 8.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $121,530 | 9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $88,820 | 12.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $84,190 | 13% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $65,110 | 16.8% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,270 | 17.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $61,610 | 17.8% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,200 | 17.9% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $54,500 | 20.1% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $42,490 | 25.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,210 | 27.9% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,650 | 29.9% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $33,970 | 32.2% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $32,760 | 33.4% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,060 | 37.7% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Essex County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Essex (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 26.1% overall, from $723 to $912. Rent fell in 3 of the last 6 tracked years, including a 12.5% 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 ↑11.9% | $907 | $912 | $1,113 |
| FY 2025 ↓2.9% | $810 | $815 | $1,006 |
| FY 2024 ↑12.5% | $834 | $839 | $1,041 |
| FY 2023 ↑8.9% | $690 | $746 | $930 |
| FY 2022 ↓1.7% | $594 | $685 | $870 |
| FY 2021 ↓3.6% | $603 | $697 | $895 |
| FY 2020 | $642 | $723 | $952 |
Where Essex County Ranks in Virginia
Essex 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 #53 of 133 counties in Virginia. Nearest by rank: Franklin city ($1,051), Southampton County ($1,051), Lancaster County ($1,052), Accomack County ($1,054), Madison County ($1,066), Shenandoah County ($1,091), Floyd County ($1,094), Prince Edward County ($1,094), Essex County (this county) ($1,113), Richmond County ($1,157), Amherst County ($1,187), Appomattox County ($1,187), Bedford County ($1,187), Campbell County ($1,187), Lynchburg city ($1,187), Westmoreland County ($1,194), Orange County ($1,234).
Nearby Counties in Virginia
Largest counties by population in Virginia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Essex County? ▼
How does Essex County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Essex County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Essex County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Essex County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Essex County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Essex County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Essex County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Essex County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Essex'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 $912 implies about $36,480/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 Essex 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.