County FMR · HUD FY2026
Fresno County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Fresno County, CA - 41% above the US average.
- $1,355
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,664
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +11.3%
- YoY change
- +41%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Fresno is the 28th cheapest of 58 counties in California by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 11.3% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #28
- cheapest of 58 in California (2BR)
- -18%
- vs the state average
- $54,200
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +11.3%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (43.9%); nearby California counties range as much as 68% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Fresno County, CA. Verify with HUD →
Fresno County, California carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,355 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,664/mo and a studio is $1,347/mo. That's 41% above the national benchmark of $959 and 18% below the California average of $1,647.
Rent increased11.3% from FY 2025 ($1,217), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $54,200/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in California. Population: 1,008,280. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.5%, Census ACS). That's faster than California's statewide growth of +0.2% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Fresno County
The Fresno County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and California'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 41% above the US average of $959 and 18% lower than the California state average of $1,647. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$1,217 in FY 2025 to $1,355 in FY 2026 - a change of +11.3%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,355, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $54,200 per year (about $4,517/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,664 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 1,008,280 and a county median household income of $71,434, 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 | $1,210 | $1,347 | +$137 (+11.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,217 | $1,355 | +$138 (+11.3%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,505 | $1,664 | +$159 (+10.6%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,109 | $2,314 | +$205 (+9.7%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,415 | $2,660 | +$245 (+10.1%) |
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 Fresno 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.
Fresno County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Fresno sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,664 Top 11% higher than 89% 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 Fresno compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other California counties
- Santa Clara
Santa Clara County
$2,982 1BR FMR / mo
- Orange
Orange County
$2,746 1BR FMR / mo
- San Diego
San Diego County
$2,459 1BR FMR / mo
- Los Angeles
Los Angeles County
$2,085 1BR FMR / mo
- Riverside
Riverside County
$1,777 1BR FMR / mo
- San Bernardino
San Bernardino County
$1,777 1BR FMR / mo
- Fresno
Fresno County
$1,355 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Fresno is highlighted. Nearby California counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Santa Clara County ($2,982), Orange County ($2,746), San Diego County ($2,459), Los Angeles County ($2,085), Riverside County ($1,777), San Bernardino County ($1,777), Fresno County (this county) ($1,355).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,355/mo compares to California salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | CA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $170,910 | 9.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $140,330 | 11.6% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $125,240 | 13% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $115,400 | 14.1% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $98,190 | 16.6% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $96,360 | 16.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $76,540 | 21.2% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $72,960 | 22.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,950 | 27.1% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $49,640 | 32.8% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $47,790 | 34% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $45,460 | 35.8% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $38,640 | 42.1% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $37,250 | 43.7% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $37,010 | 43.9% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Fresno County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Fresno (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 72.2% overall, from $787 to $1,355. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.0% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑11.3% | $1,347 | $1,355 | $1,664 |
| FY 2025 ↑5.2% | $1,210 | $1,217 | $1,505 |
| FY 2024 ↑16.0% | $1,149 | $1,157 | $1,443 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.3% | $991 | $997 | $1,258 |
| FY 2022 ↑6.2% | $899 | $904 | $1,137 |
| FY 2021 ↑8.1% | $795 | $851 | $1,064 |
| FY 2020 | $691 | $787 | $980 |
Part of the Fresno, CA Metro Area
Fresno County is a central county of the Fresno, CA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.
Fresno County ranks #1 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Fresno County (this county) ($1,355), Madera County ($1,062).
Nearby Counties in California
Largest counties by population in California
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Fresno County? ▼
How does Fresno County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Fresno County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Fresno County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Fresno County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Fresno County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Fresno County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Fresno County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Fresno'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 $1,355 implies about $54,200/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 Fresno 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.