County FMR · HUD FY2026
Grays Harbor County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Grays Harbor County, WA - 3% below the US average.
- $927
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,216
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +2.8%
- YoY change
- -3%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Grays Harbor is the 12th cheapest of 39 counties in Washington by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #975 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #975
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #12
- cheapest of 39 in Washington (2BR)
- -21%
- vs the state average
- $37,080
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (6.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (30.2%); 14 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Washington counties range as much as 80% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Grays Harbor County, WA. Verify with HUD →
Grays Harbor County, Washington carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $927 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,216/mo and a studio is $838/mo. That's 3% below the national benchmark of $959 and 21% below the Washington average of $1,180.
Rent increased2.8% from FY 2025 ($902), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $37,080/year for a 1-bedroom.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Washington. Population: 75,672. Population grew 6.2% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's in line with Washington's statewide growth of +6.1% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Grays Harbor County
HUD publishes one FMR schedule per FMR area (often the county). Local housing authorities use it as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard baseline. See how FMR is calculated.
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Grays Harbor County's 2-bedroom of $1,216 ranks #975 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.
Grays Harbor County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (3% below the US average of $959), while sitting 21% below the Washington average of $1,180. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$902 in FY 2025 to $927 in FY 2026, a change of +2.8%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $927, the 30% rule points to $37,080/year (about $3,090/month) versus this county's median household income of $63,539. A 2-bedroom at $1,216 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $798 | $838 | +$40 (+5.0%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $902 | $927 | +$25 (+2.8%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,164 | $1,216 | +$52 (+4.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,631 | $1,691 | +$60 (+3.7%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,821 | $1,869 | +$48 (+2.6%) |
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 Grays Harbor 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.
Where Grays Harbor sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,216 Top 31% higher than 69% 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 Grays Harbor compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Washington counties
- King
King County
$2,146 1BR FMR / mo
- Snohomish
Snohomish County
$2,146 1BR FMR / mo
- Thurston
Thurston County
$1,682 1BR FMR / mo
- Clark
Clark County
$1,677 1BR FMR / mo
- Pierce
Pierce County
$1,605 1BR FMR / mo
- Spokane
Spokane County
$1,193 1BR FMR / mo
- Grays Harbor
Grays Harbor County
$927 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Grays Harbor is highlighted. Nearby Washington counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: King County ($2,146), Snohomish County ($2,146), Thurston County ($1,682), Clark County ($1,677), Pierce County ($1,605), Spokane County ($1,193), Grays Harbor County (this county) ($927).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $927/mo compares to Washington salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | WA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $166,910 | 6.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $130,240 | 8.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $112,180 | 9.9% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $102,640 | 10.8% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $99,110 | 11.2% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $96,530 | 11.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $96,180 | 11.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $78,010 | 14.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $63,760 | 17.4% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $56,140 | 19.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $49,150 | 22.6% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $47,210 | 23.6% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $43,720 | 25.4% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $38,350 | 29% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $36,820 | 30.2% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Grays Harbor County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Grays Harbor (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 38.8% overall, from $668 to $927. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +19.1% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑2.8% | $838 | $927 | $1,216 |
| FY 2025 ↑0.4% | $798 | $902 | $1,164 |
| FY 2024 ↑6.0% | $775 | $898 | $1,143 |
| FY 2023 ↑19.1% | $699 | $847 | $1,046 |
| FY 2022 ↑8.9% | $588 | $711 | $885 |
| FY 2021 ↓2.2% | $541 | $653 | $820 |
| FY 2020 | $557 | $668 | $855 |
Part of the Aberdeen, WA Micro Area
Grays Harbor County is a central county of the Aberdeen, WA micropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Washington
Largest counties by population in Washington
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Grays Harbor County? ▼
How does Grays Harbor County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Grays Harbor County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Grays Harbor County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Grays Harbor County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Grays Harbor County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Grays Harbor County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Grays Harbor County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Grays Harbor County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Grays Harbor'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 $927 implies about $37,080/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 Grays Harbor 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.