County FMR · HUD FY2026

Gilmer County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Gilmer County, GA - 13% below the US average.

$830
1-bedroom FMR
$1,036
2-bedroom FMR
+13.5%
YoY change
-13%
vs US avg

The verdict

Gilmer is the 76th cheapest of 159 counties in Georgia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,541 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 13.5% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#1,541
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#76
cheapest of 159 in Georgia (2BR)
-19%
vs the state average
$33,200
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (37.9%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Gilmer County, GA. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Gilmer County, Georgia at $830 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,036/mo and a studio is $714/mo. This is 13% lower than the national average of $959 and 19% below the Georgia average of $1,023.

Rent increased13.5% from FY 2025 ($731), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $33,200/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 36.4% of the 2,428 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Georgia. Population: 31,519. Population grew 6.9% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Georgia's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area GILMER·COUNTY·GA·GA

Gilmer County, GA: $830/mo 1BR · #1541 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA GA
  • 1BR-FMR $830
  • 2BR-FMR $1,036
  • RANK-MID #1,541
  • YOY-SURGE +13.5%
  • VSUS-BELOW -13%
  • VS-ST-LOW -19% GA
  • INC-ROOM 14%
  • POP-SMALL 32K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Fulton County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $747–$913
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Fulton ($830 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $979 · US avg: $893
$714/mo
↑ 8.5% YoY -27% vs state -20% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,023 · US avg: $959
$830/mo
↑ 13.5% YoY -19% vs state -13% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,203 · US avg: $1,175
$1,036/mo
↑ 8.0% YoY -14% vs state -12% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,524 · US avg: $1,525
$1,357/mo
↑ 9.3% YoY -11% vs state -11% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,775 · US avg: $1,756
$1,738/mo
↑ 8.0% YoY -2% vs state -1% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $658
$714
+$56 (+8.5%)
1 Bedroom $731
$830
+$99 (+13.5%)
2 Bedroom $959
$1,036
+$77 (+8.0%)
3 Bedroom $1,242
$1,357
+$115 (+9.3%)
4 Bedroom $1,610
$1,738
+$128 (+8.0%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
11.8%
Affordable
Need $28,560/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
13.7%
Affordable
Need $33,200/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
17.1%
Affordable
Need $41,440/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
22.4%
Affordable
Need $54,280/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
28.8%
Affordable
Need $69,520/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%17.1%
Gilmer County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $72,542 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Georgia rent burden →

Where Gilmer sits among every US county

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

$1,036 higher than 51% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Gilmer compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Georgia counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Gilmer is highlighted. Nearby Georgia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fulton County ($1,660), Gwinnett County ($1,660), Cobb County ($1,660), DeKalb County ($1,660), Clayton County ($1,660), Chatham County ($1,533), Gilmer County (this county) ($830).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $830/mo compares to Georgia salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation GA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $128,920 7.7% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $99,800 10% Affordable
Registered Nurses $86,560 11.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $80,100 12.4% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $63,490 15.7% Affordable
Electricians $58,860 16.9% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $56,570 17.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $56,350 17.7% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $55,120 18.1% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,030 25.5% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $38,390 25.9% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $33,130 30.1% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $29,770 33.5% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $27,860 35.8% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $26,310 37.9% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Georgia) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Gilmer (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 42.9% overall, from $581 to $830. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +13.5% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$500$600$700$800$900 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $830
Gilmer County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑13.5% $714 $830 $1,036
FY 2025 ↑2.7% $658 $731 $959
FY 2024 ↑9.0% $634 $712 $936
FY 2023 ↑9.0% $575 $653 $860
FY 2022 ↑6.0% $595 $599 $788
FY 2021 ↓2.8% $561 $565 $744
FY 2020 $578 $581 $745
Total change (6yr): +42.9%
Annualized: +6.1%/yr
1 BR: $581 → $830

Where Gilmer County Ranks in Georgia

Gilmer 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 #76 of 159 counties in Georgia. Nearest by rank: Gordon County ($1,011), Franklin County ($1,017), Habersham County ($1,018), Polk County ($1,018), Wayne County ($1,021), Randolph County ($1,028), Ware County ($1,031), Charlton County ($1,036), Gilmer County (this county) ($1,036), Hart County ($1,042), Pierce County ($1,042), Baldwin County ($1,073), Elbert County ($1,074), Butts County ($1,075), Chattahoochee County ($1,088), Harris County ($1,088), Marion County ($1,088).

Gordon County
2 BR: $1,011/mo
Franklin County
2 BR: $1,017/mo
Habersham County
2 BR: $1,018/mo
Polk County
2 BR: $1,018/mo
Wayne County
2 BR: $1,021/mo
Randolph County
2 BR: $1,028/mo
Ware County
2 BR: $1,031/mo
Charlton County
2 BR: $1,036/mo
Gilmer County (this county)
2 BR: $1,036/mo
Hart County
2 BR: $1,042/mo
Pierce County
2 BR: $1,042/mo
Baldwin County
2 BR: $1,073/mo
Elbert County
2 BR: $1,074/mo
Butts County
2 BR: $1,075/mo
Chattahoochee County
2 BR: $1,088/mo
Harris County
2 BR: $1,088/mo
Marion County
2 BR: $1,088/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Gilmer County, both outside Georgia so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside GA (FY2026).

Kanawha County
WV · 2 BR $1,036/mo
Monroe County
WI · 2 BR $1,036/mo
Steuben County
IN · 2 BR $1,036/mo
De Witt County
IL · 2 BR $1,036/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside GA).

Brazoria County
TX · 17.1% of income · 2 BR $1,359/mo
Lincoln County
MO · 17.1% of income · 2 BR $1,218/mo
Boone County
KY · 17.1% of income · 2 BR $1,353/mo
Clark County
IL · 17.1% of income · 2 BR $1,009/mo

Nearby Counties in Georgia

Largest counties by population in Georgia

Showing the 8 largest of 158 other counties in Georgia.

Fulton County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 1,061,944
Gwinnett County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 957,977
Cobb County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 765,813
DeKalb County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 761,209
Clayton County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 296,312
Chatham County
1 BR: $1,533/mo Pop: 296,266
Cherokee County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 268,567
Forsyth County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 253,225
View all counties in Georgia →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Gilmer County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Gilmer County is $830 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,036 and a studio is $714.
How does Gilmer County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Gilmer County is 13% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $830 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Gilmer County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Gilmer County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,036 ranks #1,541 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Gilmer County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $33,200 ($2,767/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Gilmer County.
Is rent going up or down in Gilmer County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Gilmer County increased by 13.5% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $731 to $830.
Which jobs can afford rent in Gilmer County? ▼
Based on Georgia BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $830/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Gilmer County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Gilmer County went from $581 in FY 2020 to $830 in FY 2026, a total change of +42.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Gilmer County? ▼
In Gilmer County, the FY 2026 FMR of $830/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 Gilmer County? ▼
For Gilmer County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($830/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.