County FMR · HUD FY2026

Gray County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Gray County, KS - 17% below the US average.

$800
1-bedroom FMR
$877
2-bedroom FMR
+1.5%
YoY change
-17%
vs US avg

The verdict

Gray is the 22nd cheapest of 105 counties in Kansas by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #221 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.

#221
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#22
cheapest of 105 in Kansas (2BR)
+6%
vs the state average
$32,000
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (35.6%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Gray County, KS. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Gray County, Kansas at $800 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $877/mo and a studio is $643/mo. This is 17% lower than the national average of $959 and 6% above the Kansas average of $753.

Rent increased1.5% from FY 2025 ($788), roughly tracking inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $32,000/year.

Observed renter burden: 22.4% of the 411 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 Kansas. Population: 5,719. Population declined 5.6% over the past five years (Census ACS), a trend that can ease rental-market pressure over time even as FMR reflects recent rent levels. That's slower than Kansas's statewide growth of +1.0% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area GRAY·COUNTY·KS·KS

Gray County, KS: $800/mo 1BR · #221 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA KS
  • 1BR-FMR $800
  • 2BR-FMR $877
  • RANK-LOW #221
  • YOY-FLAT +1.5%
  • VSUS-BELOW -17%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +6% KS
  • INC-ROOM 12%
  • POP-SMALL 6K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Johnson County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $720–$880
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Johnson ($397 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $702 · US avg: $893
$643/mo
↑ 2.9% YoY -8% vs state -28% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $753 · US avg: $959
$800/mo
↑ 1.5% YoY +6% vs state -17% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $947 · US avg: $1,175
$877/mo
↑ 0.6% YoY -7% vs state -25% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,223 · US avg: $1,525
$1,090/mo
↑ 0.3% YoY -11% vs state -29% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,397 · US avg: $1,756
$1,161/mo
↑ 0.4% YoY -17% vs state -34% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $625
$643
+$18 (+2.9%)
1 Bedroom $788
$800
+$12 (+1.5%)
2 Bedroom $872
$877
+$5 (+0.6%)
3 Bedroom $1,087
$1,090
+$3 (+0.3%)
4 Bedroom $1,156
$1,161
+$5 (+0.4%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
9.9%
Affordable
Need $25,720/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
12.3%
Affordable
Need $32,000/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
13.5%
Affordable
Need $35,080/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
16.8%
Affordable
Need $43,600/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
17.9%
Affordable
Need $46,440/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%13.5%
Gray County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $77,885 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Kansas rent burden →

Where Gray sits among every US county

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

$877 higher than 7% of 3,145 counties

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

1-bedroom FMR vs other Kansas counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Gray 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), Shawnee County ($820), Gray County (this county) ($800).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $800/mo, most of these Kansas occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation KS Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $106,660 9% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $85,600 11.2% Affordable
Registered Nurses $78,060 12.3% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $76,400 12.6% Affordable
Electricians $61,830 15.5% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $56,940 16.9% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $56,610 17% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $50,820 18.9% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $48,910 19.6% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $39,210 24.5% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $38,330 25% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $32,690 29.4% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $31,670 30.3% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $27,960 34.3% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $27,000 35.6% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Kansas) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Gray (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 47.6% overall, from $542 to $800. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +19.0% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$500$600$700$800$900 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $800
Gray County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑1.5% $643 $800 $877
FY 2025 ↑0.5% $625 $788 $872
FY 2024 ↑19.0% $633 $784 $882
FY 2023 ↑12.6% $584 $659 $788
FY 2022 ↑6.6% $566 $585 $742
FY 2021 ↑1.3% $543 $549 $718
FY 2020 $524 $542 $714
Total change (6yr): +47.6%
Annualized: +6.7%/yr
1 BR: $542 → $800

Where Gray County Ranks in Kansas

Gray 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 #22 of 105 counties in Kansas. Nearest by rank: Cowley County ($877), Decatur County ($877), Edwards County ($877), Elk County ($877), Ellsworth County ($877), Gove County ($877), Graham County ($877), Grant County ($877), Gray County (this county) ($877), Greeley County ($877), Greenwood County ($877), Harper County ($877), Haskell County ($877), Hodgeman County ($877), Jewell County ($877), Kingman County ($877), Kiowa County ($877).

Cowley County
2 BR: $877/mo
Decatur County
2 BR: $877/mo
Edwards County
2 BR: $877/mo
Elk County
2 BR: $877/mo
Ellsworth County
2 BR: $877/mo
Gove County
2 BR: $877/mo
Graham County
2 BR: $877/mo
Grant County
2 BR: $877/mo
Gray County (this county)
2 BR: $877/mo
Greeley County
2 BR: $877/mo
Greenwood County
2 BR: $877/mo
Harper County
2 BR: $877/mo
Haskell County
2 BR: $877/mo
Hodgeman County
2 BR: $877/mo
Jewell County
2 BR: $877/mo
Kingman County
2 BR: $877/mo
Kiowa County
2 BR: $877/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Gray County, both outside Kansas 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 KS (FY2026).

Panola County
MS · 2 BR $878/mo
Henry County
AL · 2 BR $878/mo
Cullman County
AL · 2 BR $879/mo
White County
AR · 2 BR $880/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Benton County
IA · 13.5% of income · 2 BR $956/mo
Lexington city
VA · 13.5% of income · 2 BR $1,005/mo
Lincoln County
WY · 13.4% of income · 2 BR $963/mo
Hamlin County
SD · 13.4% of income · 2 BR $929/mo

Nearby Counties in Kansas

Largest counties by population in Kansas

Showing the 8 largest of 104 other counties in Kansas.

Johnson County
1 BR: $1,197/mo Pop: 610,742
Sedgwick County
1 BR: $849/mo Pop: 522,700
Shawnee County
1 BR: $820/mo Pop: 178,625
Wyandotte County
1 BR: $1,197/mo Pop: 167,989
Douglas County
1 BR: $1,006/mo Pop: 119,094
Leavenworth County
1 BR: $1,197/mo Pop: 82,050
Riley County
1 BR: $875/mo Pop: 72,105
Butler County
1 BR: $849/mo Pop: 67,618
View all counties in Kansas →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Gray County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Gray County is $800 per month. A 2-bedroom is $877 and a studio is $643.
How does Gray County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Gray County is 17% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $800 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Gray County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Gray County's 2-bedroom FMR of $877 ranks #221 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the lowest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Gray County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $32,000 ($2,667/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Gray County.
Is rent going up or down in Gray County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Gray County increased by 1.5% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $788 to $800.
Which jobs can afford rent in Gray County? ▼
Based on Kansas BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $800/mo. 12 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Gray County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Gray County went from $542 in FY 2020 to $800 in FY 2026, a total change of +47.6% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Gray County? ▼
In Gray County, the FY 2026 FMR of $800/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 Gray County? ▼
For Gray County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($800/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.