County FMR · HUD FY2026
Geary County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Geary County, KS - 12% below the US average.
- $848
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,048
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +11.9%
- YoY change
- -12%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Geary is the 21st most expensive of 105 counties in Kansas by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 11.9% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #21
- most expensive of 105 in Kansas (2BR)
- +13%
- vs the state average
- $33,920
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +11.9%
- 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 (37.7%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Geary County, KS. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Geary County, Kansas at $848 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,048/mo and a studio is $843/mo. This is 12% lower than the national average of $959 and 13% above the Kansas average of $753.
Rent increased11.9% from FY 2025 ($758), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $33,920/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Kansas. Population: 36,247. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.9%, Census ACS). That's faster than Kansas's statewide growth of +1.0% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Geary County
The Geary County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Kansas'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.
Geary County's 1-bedroom rent runs 12% below the US average of $959 and 13% higher than the Kansas state average of $753. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$758 in FY 2025 to $848 in FY 2026 - a change of +11.9%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $848, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $33,920 per year (about $2,827/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,048 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 36,247 and a county median household income of $57,344, 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 | $753 | $843 | +$90 (+12.0%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $758 | $848 | +$90 (+11.9%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $994 | $1,048 | +$54 (+5.4%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,393 | $1,458 | +$65 (+4.7%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,669 | $1,758 | +$89 (+5.3%) |
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 Geary 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.
Geary County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Geary sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,048 higher than 53% 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 Geary compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Kansas counties
- Johnson
Johnson County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Wyandotte
Wyandotte County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Leavenworth
Leavenworth County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Douglas
Douglas County
$1,006 1BR FMR / mo
- Sedgwick
Sedgwick County
$849 1BR FMR / mo
- Geary
Geary County
$848 1BR FMR / mo
- Shawnee
Shawnee County
$820 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Geary is highlighted. Nearby Kansas counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Johnson County ($1,197), Wyandotte County ($1,197), Leavenworth County ($1,197), Douglas County ($1,006), Sedgwick County ($849), Geary County (this county) ($848), Shawnee County ($820).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $848/mo compares to Kansas salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | KS Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $106,660 | 9.5% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $85,600 | 11.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $78,060 | 13% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $76,400 | 13.3% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $61,830 | 16.5% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,940 | 17.9% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $56,610 | 18% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $50,820 | 20% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $48,910 | 20.8% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $39,210 | 26% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $38,330 | 26.5% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $32,690 | 31.1% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,670 | 32.1% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $27,960 | 36.4% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,000 | 37.7% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Geary County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Geary (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 16.3% overall, from $729 to $848. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.9% (FY 2026).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑11.9% | $843 | $848 | $1,048 |
| FY 2025 ↑2.6% | $753 | $758 | $994 |
| FY 2024 ↑9.3% | $734 | $739 | $971 |
| FY 2023 ↑0.7% | $672 | $676 | $890 |
| FY 2022 ↓2.3% | $667 | $671 | $883 |
| FY 2021 ↓5.8% | $683 | $687 | $906 |
| FY 2020 | $724 | $729 | $960 |
Part of the Manhattan, KS Metro Area
Geary County is a outlying county of the Manhattan, KS metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Geary County ranks #3 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Riley County ($875), Pottawatomie County ($875), Geary County (this county) ($848).
Nearby Counties in Kansas
Largest counties by population in Kansas
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Geary County? ▼
How does Geary County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Geary County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Geary County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Geary County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Geary County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Geary County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Geary County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Geary'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 $848 implies about $33,920/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 Geary 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.