County FMR · HUD FY2026
Garrett County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Garrett County, MD - 10% below the US average.
- $864
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $973
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +4.7%
- YoY change
- -10%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Garrett is the 2nd cheapest of 24 counties in Maryland by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #2
- cheapest of 24 in Maryland (2BR)
- -38%
- vs the state average
- $34,560
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +4.7%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (33.2%); 13 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 Garrett County, MD. Verify with HUD →
Garrett County, Maryland carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $864 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $973/mo and a studio is $848/mo. That's 10% below the national benchmark of $959 and 38% below the Maryland average of $1,404.
Rent increased4.7% from FY 2025 ($825), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $34,560/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Maryland. Population: 28,856. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.3%, Census ACS). That's slower than Maryland's statewide growth of +2.8% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Garrett County
The Garrett County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Maryland'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 10% below the US average of $959 and 38% lower than the Maryland state average of $1,404. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$825 in FY 2025 to $864 in FY 2026 - a change of +4.7%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $864, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $34,560 per year (about $2,880/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $973 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 28,856 and a county median household income of $69,031, 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 | $811 | $848 | +$37 (+4.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $825 | $864 | +$39 (+4.7%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $933 | $973 | +$40 (+4.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,307 | $1,353 | +$46 (+3.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,532 | $1,441 | $-91 (-5.9%) |
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 Garrett 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.
Garrett County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Garrett sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$973 higher than 31% 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 Garrett compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Maryland counties
- Montgomery
Montgomery County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Prince George's
Prince George's County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Baltimore
Baltimore County
$1,511 1BR FMR / mo
- Anne Arundel
Anne Arundel County
$1,511 1BR FMR / mo
- Baltimore city
Baltimore city
$1,511 1BR FMR / mo
- Howard
Howard County
$1,511 1BR FMR / mo
- Garrett
Garrett County
$864 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Garrett is highlighted. Nearby Maryland counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Montgomery County ($2,015), Prince George's County ($2,015), Baltimore County ($1,511), Anne Arundel County ($1,511), Baltimore city ($1,511), Howard County ($1,511), Garrett County (this county) ($864).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $864/mo compares to Maryland salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | MD Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $137,890 | 7.5% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $105,320 | 9.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $96,830 | 10.7% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $84,890 | 12.2% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $77,440 | 13.4% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $74,720 | 13.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $65,650 | 15.8% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $63,560 | 16.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,180 | 18.1% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $43,100 | 24.1% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $40,310 | 25.7% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,090 | 28.7% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $35,700 | 29% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $34,310 | 30.2% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $31,200 | 33.2% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Garrett County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Garrett (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 46.9% overall, from $588 to $864. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.3% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑4.7% | $848 | $864 | $973 |
| FY 2025 ↑3.8% | $811 | $825 | $933 |
| FY 2024 ↑12.3% | $785 | $795 | $905 |
| FY 2023 ↑11.1% | $696 | $708 | $826 |
| FY 2022 ↑5.5% | $557 | $637 | $757 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.7% | $484 | $604 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $477 | $588 | $732 |
Where Garrett County Ranks in Maryland
Garrett 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 #2 of 24 counties in Maryland. Nearest by rank: Allegany County ($973), Garrett County (this county) ($973), Dorchester County ($1,144), Somerset County ($1,167), Worcester County ($1,194), Kent County ($1,246), Washington County ($1,261).
Nearby Counties in Maryland
Largest counties by population in Maryland
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Garrett County? ▼
How does Garrett County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Garrett County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Garrett County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Garrett County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Garrett County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Garrett County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Garrett County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Garrett'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 $864 implies about $34,560/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 Garrett 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.