County FMR · HUD FY2026

Grant County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Grant County, NM - 16% below the US average.

Compiled by PlainRent Editorial, Fair Market Rent Editorial Team · May 15, 2026

$801
1-bedroom FMR: $1,048
2-bedroom FMR: +6.4%
YoY change: -16%
vs US avg

The verdict

Grant is the 14th most expensive of 33 counties in New Mexico by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 6.4% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#14
most expensive of 33 in New Mexico (2BR): -14%
vs the state average: $32,040
income to afford it (30% rule): +6.4%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (33.5%); nearby New Mexico counties range as much as 57% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Grant County, NM. Verify with HUD →

Grant County, New Mexico carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $801 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,048/mo and a studio is $795/mo. That's 16% below the national benchmark of $959 and 14% below the New Mexico average of $927.

Rent increased6.4% from FY 2025 ($753), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $32,040/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in New Mexico. Population: 28,006. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.7%, Census ACS). That's slower than New Mexico's statewide growth of +1.1% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Grant County

The Grant County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and New Mexico'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 16% below the US average of $959 and 14% lower than the New Mexico state average of $927. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$753 in FY 2025 to $801 in FY 2026 - a change of +6.4%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $801, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $32,040 per year (about $2,670/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,048 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 28,006 and a county median household income of $45,921, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio

State avg: $828 · US avg: $893

$795/mo

↑ 6.3% YoY -4% vs state -11% vs US

1 Bedroom

State avg: $927 · US avg: $959

$801/mo

↑ 6.4% YoY -14% vs state -16% vs US

2 Bedroom

State avg: $1,129 · US avg: $1,175

$1,048/mo

↑ 12.3% YoY -7% vs state -11% vs US

3 Bedroom

State avg: $1,496 · US avg: $1,525

$1,304/mo

↑ 5.0% YoY -13% vs state -14% vs US

4 Bedroom

State avg: $1,758 · US avg: $1,756

$1,388/mo

↑ 8.1% YoY -21% vs state -21% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms	FY 2025	FY 2026	Change	vs State	vs US
Studio	$748	$795	+$47 (+6.3%)	-4%	-11%
1 Bedroom	$753	$801	+$48 (+6.4%)	-14%	-16%
2 Bedroom	$933	$1,048	+$115 (+12.3%)	-7%	-11%
3 Bedroom	$1,242	$1,304	+$62 (+5.0%)	-13%	-14%
4 Bedroom	$1,284	$1,388	+$104 (+8.1%)	-21%	-21%

Affordability Snapshot

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

Required annual income for 1 BR

$32,040

$2,670/month gross

Required annual income for 2 BR

$41,920

$3,493/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio

20.8%

Affordable

Need $31,800/yr for 30% rule

1 Bedroom

20.9%

Affordable

Need $32,040/yr for 30% rule

2 Bedroom

27.4%

Affordable

Need $41,920/yr for 30% rule

3 Bedroom

34.1%

Burdened

Need $52,160/yr for 30% rule

4 Bedroom

36.3%

Burdened

Need $55,520/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.

Grant County 2-bedroom rent burden

County median income: $45,921 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View New Mexico rent burden →

Where Grant 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

Santa Fe

$1,390
Bernalillo

$1,185
Sandoval

$1,185
Valencia

$1,185
Dona Ana

$951
San Juan

$885
Grant

$801

What this shows Grant is highlighted. Nearby New Mexico counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Santa Fe County ($1,390), Bernalillo County ($1,185), Sandoval County ($1,185), Valencia County ($1,185), Dona Ana County ($951), San Juan County ($885), Grant County (this county) ($801).

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $801/mo compares to New Mexico salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation	NM Salary	Rent Burden	Verdict
Software Developers	$120,820	8%	Affordable
General & Operations Managers	$100,200	9.6%	Affordable
Registered Nurses	$88,260	10.9%	Affordable
Accountants & Auditors	$77,420	12.4%	Affordable
Elementary School Teachers	$65,510	14.7%	Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$63,340	15.2%	Affordable
Electricians	$56,890	16.9%	Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants	$56,620	17%	Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	$48,360	19.9%	Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians	$44,970	21.4%	Affordable
Customer Service Representatives	$38,060	25.3%	Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners	$33,640	28.6%	Affordable
Retail Salespersons	$31,360	30.7%	Stretched
Teaching Assistants	$30,350	31.7%	Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers	$28,650	33.5%	Stretched

Salaries: BLS OES (New Mexico) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Grant (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 29.8% overall, from $617 to $801. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.7% (FY 2023).

Grant County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026

Year	Studio	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
FY 2026 ↑6.4%	$795	$801	$1,048	$1,304	$1,388
FY 2025 ↑2.7%	$748	$753	$933	$1,242	$1,284
FY 2024 ↑7.5%	$728	$733	$877	$1,209	$1,303
FY 2023 ↑10.7%	$582	$682	$795	$1,092	$1,285
FY 2022 ↓7.8%	$567	$616	$726	$990	$1,192
FY 2021 ↑8.3%	$630	$668	$806	$1,071	$1,324
FY 2020	$598	$617	$745	$999	$1,198

Total change (6yr): +29.8%

Annualized: +4.4%/yr

1 BR: $617 → $801

Part of the Silver City, NM Micro Area

Grant County is a central county of the Silver City, NM micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in New Mexico

Largest counties by population in New Mexico

Bernalillo County

1 BR: $1,185/mo Pop: 674,692

Dona Ana County

1 BR: $951/mo Pop: 219,870

Santa Fe County

1 BR: $1,390/mo Pop: 154,481

Sandoval County

1 BR: $1,185/mo Pop: 149,460

San Juan County

1 BR: $885/mo Pop: 121,798

Valencia County

1 BR: $1,185/mo Pop: 76,613

Lea County

1 BR: $1,068/mo Pop: 73,103

McKinley County

1 BR: $894/mo Pop: 72,073

View all counties in New Mexico →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Grant County? ▼

The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Grant County is $801 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,048 and a studio is $795.

How does Grant County rent compare to the national average? ▼

Rent in Grant County is 16% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $801 compared to $959 nationally.

What income do I need to afford rent in Grant County? ▼

Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $32,040 ($2,670/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Grant County.

Is rent going up or down in Grant County? ▼

The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Grant County increased by 6.4% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $753 to $801.

Which jobs can afford rent in Grant County? ▼

Based on New Mexico BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $801/mo. 12 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.

How much has rent changed in Grant County over time? ▼

The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Grant County went from $617 in FY 2020 to $801 in FY 2026, a total change of +29.8% over 6 years.

How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Grant County? ▼

In Grant County, the FY 2026 FMR of $801/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 Grant County? ▼

For Grant County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($801/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Grant'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 $801 implies about $32,040/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 Grant 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.