County FMR · HUD FY2026

Galax city Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Galax city, VA - 20% below the US average.

$770
1-bedroom FMR
$914
2-bedroom FMR
+9.1%
YoY change
-20%
vs US avg

The verdict

Galax city is the 10th cheapest of 133 counties in Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #441 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 9.1% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#441
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#10
cheapest of 133 in Virginia (2BR)
-35%
vs the state average
$30,800
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (6.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (31.8%); 14 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 Galax city, VA. Verify with HUD →

Galax city, Virginia carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $770 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $914/mo and a studio is $765/mo. That's 20% below the national benchmark of $959 and 35% below the Virginia average of $1,182.

Rent increased9.1% from FY 2025 ($706), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $30,800/year.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Virginia. Population: 6,687. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.9%, Census ACS). That's slower than Virginia's statewide growth of +2.9% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Galax city

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, Galax city's 2-bedroom of $914 ranks #441 most affordable of 3,145 US counties, in the lower-rent quarter of HUD counties.

This is a below-average rent market: 1-bedroom FMR is 20% under the US average of $959 and 35% below Virginia's $1,182. HUD's 1-bedroom figure shifted from $706 (FY 2025) to $770 (FY 2026), a +9.1% move that still leaves this county below the US mid-point.

A 1-bedroom at $770 needs $30,800/year under the 30% rule against a county median of $41,438, and the median household clears that line with room to spare. A 2-bedroom at $914 is the next step up.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,137 · US avg: $893
$765/mo
↑ 9.1% YoY -33% vs state -14% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,182 · US avg: $959
$770/mo
↑ 9.1% YoY -35% vs state -20% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,369 · US avg: $1,175
$914/mo
↑ 7.4% YoY -33% vs state -22% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,789 · US avg: $1,525
$1,271/mo
↑ 6.6% YoY -29% vs state -17% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,128 · US avg: $1,756
$1,481/mo
↑ 5.6% YoY -30% vs state -16% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $701
$765
+$64 (+9.1%)
1 Bedroom $706
$770
+$64 (+9.1%)
2 Bedroom $851
$914
+$63 (+7.4%)
3 Bedroom $1,192
$1,271
+$79 (+6.6%)
4 Bedroom $1,402
$1,481
+$79 (+5.6%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$30,800
$2,567/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$36,560
$3,047/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Galax city. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
22.2%
Affordable
Need $30,600/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
22.3%
Affordable
Need $30,800/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
26.5%
Affordable
Need $36,560/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
36.8%
Burdened
Need $50,840/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
42.9%
Burdened
Need $59,240/yr for 30% rule
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.

0%100%National avg22%26.5%
Galax city 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $41,438 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Virginia rent burden →

Where Galax city sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$914 higher than 14% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Above this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

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 Galax city compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Virginia counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Galax city 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), Galax city (this county) ($770).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $770/mo, most of these Virginia occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation VA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $134,470 6.9% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $121,530 7.6% Affordable
Registered Nurses $88,820 10.4% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $84,190 11% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $65,110 14.2% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $62,270 14.8% Affordable
Electricians $61,610 15% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $61,200 15.1% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $54,500 17% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $42,490 21.7% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,210 23.6% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $36,650 25.2% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $33,970 27.2% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $32,760 28.2% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $29,060 31.8% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Virginia) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Galax city. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Galax city (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 22.8% overall, from $627 to $770. Rent fell in 3 of the last 6 tracked years, including a 13.8% drop in FY 2024 - an unusual multi-year softening rather than the steady increases seen in most US counties.

$550$600$650$700$750$800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $770
Galax city 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑9.1% $765 $770 $914
FY 2025 ↓3.6% $701 $706 $851
FY 2024 ↑13.8% $728 $732 $905
FY 2023 ↑7.7% $588 $643 $793
FY 2022 ↓2.9% $479 $597 $702
FY 2021 ↓1.9% $472 $615 $701
FY 2020 $482 $627 $714
Total change (6yr): +22.8%
Annualized: +3.5%/yr
1 BR: $627 → $770

Where Galax city Ranks in Virginia

Galax city 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 133 counties in Virginia. Nearest by rank: Bland County ($914), Brunswick County ($914), Buchanan County ($914), Carroll County ($914), Charlotte County ($914), Covington city ($914), Danville city ($914), Dickenson County ($914), Galax city (this county) ($914), Grayson County ($914), Halifax County ($914), Henry County ($914), Highland County ($914), Lee County ($914), Lunenburg County ($914), Martinsville city ($914), Norton city ($914).

Bland County
2 BR: $914/mo
Brunswick County
2 BR: $914/mo
Buchanan County
2 BR: $914/mo
Carroll County
2 BR: $914/mo
Charlotte County
2 BR: $914/mo
Covington city
2 BR: $914/mo
Danville city
2 BR: $914/mo
Dickenson County
2 BR: $914/mo
Galax city (this county)
2 BR: $914/mo
Grayson County
2 BR: $914/mo
Halifax County
2 BR: $914/mo
Henry County
2 BR: $914/mo
Highland County
2 BR: $914/mo
Lee County
2 BR: $914/mo
Lunenburg County
2 BR: $914/mo
Martinsville city
2 BR: $914/mo
Norton city
2 BR: $914/mo

Nearby Counties in Virginia

Largest counties by population in Virginia

Fairfax County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 1,145,354
Prince William County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 481,114
Virginia Beach city
1 BR: $1,512/mo Pop: 457,900
Loudoun County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 420,773
Chesterfield County
1 BR: $1,507/mo Pop: 366,019
Henrico County
1 BR: $1,507/mo Pop: 333,120
Chesapeake city
1 BR: $1,512/mo Pop: 249,377
Norfolk city
1 BR: $1,512/mo Pop: 236,973
View all counties in Virginia →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Galax city? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Galax city is $770 per month. A 2-bedroom is $914 and a studio is $765.
How does Galax city rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Galax city is 20% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $770 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Galax city rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Galax city's 2-bedroom FMR of $914 ranks #441 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the lower-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Galax city? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $30,800 ($2,567/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Galax city.
Is rent going up or down in Galax city? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Galax city increased by 9.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $706 to $770.
Which jobs can afford rent in Galax city? ▼
Based on Virginia BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $770/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Galax city over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Galax city went from $627 in FY 2020 to $770 in FY 2026, a total change of +22.8% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Galax city? ▼
In Galax city, the FY 2026 FMR of $770/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Galax city? ▼
For Galax city, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($770/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Galax city'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 $770 implies about $30,800/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 Galax city 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.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

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.