County FMR · HUD FY2026
Garfield County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Garfield County, CO - 28% above the US average.
- $1,223
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,605
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +0.3%
- YoY change
- +28%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Garfield is the 19th most expensive of 64 counties in Colorado by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #19
- most expensive of 64 in Colorado (2BR)
- +5%
- vs the state average
- $48,920
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +0.3%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.9%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (46.8%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Garfield County, CO. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Garfield County, Colorado is $1,223 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,605/mo and a studio is $1,215/mo. This is 28% higher than the national average of $959 and 5% above the Colorado average of $1,161.
Rent increased0.3% from FY 2025 ($1,219), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $48,920/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Colorado. Population: 61,683. Population grew 6.0% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's in line with Colorado's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Garfield County
The Garfield County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Colorado'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 28% above the US average of $959 and 5% higher than the Colorado state average of $1,161. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$1,219 in FY 2025 to $1,223 in FY 2026 - a change of +0.3%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,223, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $48,920 per year (about $4,077/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,605 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 61,683 and a county median household income of $86,172, 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 | $1,211 | $1,215 | +$4 (+0.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,219 | $1,223 | +$4 (+0.3%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,599 | $1,605 | +$6 (+0.4%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,241 | $2,232 | $-9 (-0.4%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,463 | $2,391 | $-72 (-2.9%) |
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 Garfield 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.
Garfield County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Garfield sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,605 Top 12% higher than 88% 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 Garfield compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Colorado counties
- Denver
Denver County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Arapahoe
Arapahoe County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Jefferson
Jefferson County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Adams
Adams County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Douglas
Douglas County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- El Paso
El Paso County
$1,464 1BR FMR / mo
- Garfield
Garfield County
$1,223 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Garfield is highlighted. Nearby Colorado counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Denver County ($1,754), Arapahoe County ($1,754), Jefferson County ($1,754), Adams County ($1,754), Douglas County ($1,754), El Paso County ($1,464), Garfield County (this county) ($1,223).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,223/mo compares to Colorado salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | CO Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $134,540 | 10.9% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $130,340 | 11.3% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $96,520 | 15.2% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $96,100 | 15.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $90,030 | 16.3% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $73,380 | 20% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $62,090 | 23.6% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,550 | 23.8% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,260 | 24.4% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $48,070 | 30.5% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,020 | 31.9% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,270 | 39.4% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,960 | 39.7% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $35,440 | 41.4% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $31,390 | 46.8% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Garfield County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Garfield (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 40.3% overall, from $872 to $1,223. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.5% in FY 2022, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑0.3% | $1,215 | $1,223 | $1,605 |
| FY 2025 ↑4.2% | $1,211 | $1,219 | $1,599 |
| FY 2024 ↑6.3% | $1,162 | $1,170 | $1,537 |
| FY 2023 ↑0.0% | $1,094 | $1,101 | $1,357 |
| FY 2022 ↑15.5% | $1,094 | $1,101 | $1,387 |
| FY 2021 ↑9.3% | $947 | $953 | $1,212 |
| FY 2020 | $866 | $872 | $1,140 |
Part of the Rifle, CO Micro Area
Garfield County is a central county of the Rifle, CO micropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other micro-area county.
Garfield County ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Pitkin County ($2,020), Garfield County (this county) ($1,223).
Nearby Counties in Colorado
Largest counties by population in Colorado
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Garfield County? ▼
How does Garfield County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Garfield County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Garfield County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Garfield County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Garfield County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Garfield County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Garfield County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Garfield'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 $1,223 implies about $48,920/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 Garfield 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.