County FMR · HUD FY2026
Fairfax County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Fairfax County, VA - 110% above the US average.
- $2,015
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $2,246
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -2.0%
- YoY change
- +110%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Fairfax is the 11th most expensive of 133 counties in Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #94 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #94
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #11
- most expensive of 133 in Virginia (2BR)
- +70%
- vs the state average
- $80,600
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (18%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (83.2%); only 4 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 Fairfax County, VA. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Fairfax County, Virginia is $2,015 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $2,246/mo and a studio is $1,953/mo. This is 110% higher than the national average of $959 and 70% above the Virginia average of $1,182.
Rent decreased2.0% from FY 2025 ($2,056), declining against the trend. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $80,600/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Virginia. Population: 1,145,354. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.1%, Census ACS). That's slower than Virginia's statewide growth of +2.9% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Fairfax 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, Fairfax County's 2-bedroom of $2,246 ranks #94 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
Fairfax County sits in the expensive tier: 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent is 110% above the US average of $959, and 70% above the Virginia average of $1,182. Voucher payment standards and renter budgets both feel that premium. From FY 2025 to FY 2026 the 1-bedroom schedule moved $2,056 → $2,015 (-2.0%), a rare easing in a high-rent county.
At $2,015/mo for a 1-bedroom, the 30% rule wants $80,600/year: still within reach of the county median income of $150,113, though a 2-bedroom at $2,246 raises the bar.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,012 | $1,953 | $-59 (-2.9%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,056 | $2,015 | $-41 (-2.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $2,314 | $2,246 | $-68 (-2.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,893 | $2,835 | $-58 (-2.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $3,413 | $3,332 | $-81 (-2.4%) |
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 Fairfax 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 Fairfax sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$2,246 Top 3% higher than 97% 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 Fairfax 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
- Chesapeake city
Chesapeake city
$1,512 1BR FMR / mo
- Chesterfield
Chesterfield County
$1,507 1BR FMR / mo
- Henrico
Henrico County
$1,507 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Fairfax is highlighted. Nearby Virginia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fairfax County (this county) ($2,015), Prince William County ($2,015), Loudoun County ($2,015), Virginia Beach city ($1,512), Chesapeake city ($1,512), Chesterfield County ($1,507), Henrico County ($1,507).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $2,015/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Virginia BLS wages?
| Occupation | VA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $134,470 | 18% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $121,530 | 19.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $88,820 | 27.2% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $84,190 | 28.7% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $65,110 | 37.1% | Stretched |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,270 | 38.8% | Stretched |
| Electricians | $61,610 | 39.2% | Stretched |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,200 | 39.5% | Stretched |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $54,500 | 44.4% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $42,490 | 56.9% | Unaffordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,210 | 61.7% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,650 | 66% | Unaffordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $33,970 | 71.2% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $32,760 | 73.8% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,060 | 83.2% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Fairfax County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Fairfax (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 34.3% overall, from $1,500 to $2,015. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.0% in FY 2025, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓2.0% | $1,953 | $2,015 | $2,246 |
| FY 2025 ↑14.0% | $2,012 | $2,056 | $2,314 |
| FY 2024 ↑11.6% | $1,772 | $1,803 | $2,045 |
| FY 2023 ↑3.1% | $1,589 | $1,615 | $1,838 |
| FY 2022 ↑1.2% | $1,539 | $1,567 | $1,785 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.2% | $1,513 | $1,548 | $1,765 |
| FY 2020 | $1,457 | $1,500 | $1,707 |
Part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metro Area
Fairfax County is a central county of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan statistical area, alongside 22 other metro-area counties.
Fairfax County ranks #19 of 23 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Montgomery County ($2,015), Prince George's County ($2,015), District of Columbia ($2,015), Prince William County ($2,015), Loudoun County ($2,015), Frederick County ($2,015), Arlington County ($2,015), Charles County ($2,015), Stafford County ($2,015), Alexandria city ($2,015), Spotsylvania County ($2,015), Fauquier County ($2,015), Manassas city ($2,015), Fredericksburg city ($2,015), Fairfax city ($2,015), Manassas Park city ($2,015), Clarke County ($2,015), Falls Church city ($2,015), Fairfax County (this county) ($2,015), Rappahannock County ($1,254), Culpeper County ($1,170), Warren County ($1,002), Jefferson County ($953).
Show all 23 counties in this metro area
Nearby Counties in Virginia
Largest counties by population in Virginia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Fairfax County? ▼
How does Fairfax County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Fairfax County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Fairfax County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Fairfax County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Fairfax County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Fairfax County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Fairfax County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Fairfax County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Fairfax'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 $2,015 implies about $80,600/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 Fairfax 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.