County FMR · HUD FY2026

Gunnison County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Gunnison County, CO - 20% above the US average.

$1,149
1-bedroom FMR
$1,334
2-bedroom FMR
+6.1%
YoY change
+20%
vs US avg

The verdict

Gunnison is the 29th most expensive of 64 counties in Colorado by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #692 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 6.1% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#692
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#29
most expensive of 64 in Colorado (2BR)
-1%
vs the state average
$45,960
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.2%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (43.9%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Gunnison County, CO. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Gunnison County, Colorado at $1,149 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,334/mo and a studio is $1,015/mo. This is 20% higher than the national average of $959 and 1% below the Colorado average of $1,161.

Rent increased6.1% from FY 2025 ($1,083), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $45,960/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.

Observed renter burden: 49.3% of the 2,613 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 Colorado. Population: 17,018. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.8%, Census ACS). That's in line with Colorado's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area GUNNISON·COUNTY·CO·CO

Gunnison County, CO: $1,149/mo 1BR · #692 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA CO
  • 1BR-FMR $1,149
  • 2BR-FMR $1,334
  • RANK-MID #692
  • YOY-SURGE +6.1%
  • VSUS-ABOVE +20%
  • VS-ST-NEAR -1% CO
  • INC-ROOM 18%
  • POP-SMALL 17K
  • PHOTO-NEAR El Paso County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,034–$1,264
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: El Paso ($315 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,083 · US avg: $893
$1,015/mo
↑ 1.5% YoY -6% vs state +14% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,161 · US avg: $959
$1,149/mo
↑ 6.1% YoY -1% vs state +20% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,429 · US avg: $1,175
$1,334/mo
↑ 0.6% YoY -7% vs state +14% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,861 · US avg: $1,525
$1,855/mo
↓ 0.2% YoY -0% vs state +22% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,178 · US avg: $1,756
$2,238/mo
↓ 0.4% YoY +3% vs state +27% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,000
$1,015
+$15 (+1.5%)
1 Bedroom $1,083
$1,149
+$66 (+6.1%)
2 Bedroom $1,326
$1,334
+$8 (+0.6%)
3 Bedroom $1,858
$1,855
$-3 (-0.2%)
4 Bedroom $2,246
$2,238
$-8 (-0.4%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
15.7%
Affordable
Need $40,600/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
17.8%
Affordable
Need $45,960/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.7%
Affordable
Need $53,360/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
28.8%
Affordable
Need $74,200/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
34.7%
Burdened
Need $89,520/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%20.7%
Gunnison County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $77,358 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Colorado rent burden →

Where Gunnison sits among every US county

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

$1,334 Top 22% higher than 78% 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%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Gunnison compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Colorado counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Gunnison is highlighted. Nearby Colorado counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Denver County ($1,754), Arapahoe County ($1,754), Jefferson County ($1,754), Adams County ($1,754), Douglas County ($1,754), El Paso County ($1,464), Gunnison County (this county) ($1,149).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,149/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Colorado BLS wages?

Occupation CO Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $134,540 10.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $130,340 10.6% Affordable
Registered Nurses $96,520 14.3% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $96,100 14.3% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $90,030 15.3% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $73,380 18.8% Affordable
Electricians $62,090 22.2% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $61,550 22.4% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,260 22.9% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $48,070 28.7% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $46,020 30% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $37,270 37% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $36,960 37.3% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $35,440 38.9% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $31,390 43.9% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Colorado) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Gunnison (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 59.1% overall, from $722 to $1,149. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.7% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$700$800$900$1,000$1,100$1,200 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,149
Gunnison County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑6.1% $1,015 $1,149 $1,334
FY 2025 ↓3.2% $1,000 $1,083 $1,326
FY 2024 ↑15.7% $1,111 $1,119 $1,470
FY 2023 ↑2.9% $961 $967 $1,273
FY 2022 ↑13.9% $934 $940 $1,198
FY 2021 ↑14.3% $820 $825 $1,012
FY 2020 $718 $722 $874
Total change (6yr): +59.1%
Annualized: +8.1%/yr
1 BR: $722 → $1,149

Where Gunnison County Ranks in Colorado

Gunnison 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 #36 of 64 counties in Colorado. Nearest by rank: Moffat County ($1,164), Montrose County ($1,168), Montezuma County ($1,180), San Juan County ($1,227), Fremont County ($1,244), Mesa County ($1,249), Pueblo County ($1,269), Crowley County ($1,289), Gunnison County (this county) ($1,334), Archuleta County ($1,337), Lake County ($1,343), Mineral County ($1,343), Chaffee County ($1,466), Grand County ($1,475), Teller County ($1,493), Ouray County ($1,526), Weld County ($1,563).

Moffat County
2 BR: $1,164/mo
Montrose County
2 BR: $1,168/mo
Montezuma County
2 BR: $1,180/mo
San Juan County
2 BR: $1,227/mo
Fremont County
2 BR: $1,244/mo
Mesa County
2 BR: $1,249/mo
Pueblo County
2 BR: $1,269/mo
Crowley County
2 BR: $1,289/mo
Gunnison County (this county)
2 BR: $1,334/mo
Archuleta County
2 BR: $1,337/mo
Lake County
2 BR: $1,343/mo
Mineral County
2 BR: $1,343/mo
Chaffee County
2 BR: $1,466/mo
Grand County
2 BR: $1,475/mo
Teller County
2 BR: $1,493/mo
Ouray County
2 BR: $1,526/mo
Weld County
2 BR: $1,563/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Gunnison County, both outside Colorado 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 CO (FY2026).

Barry County
MI · 2 BR $1,334/mo
York County
PA · 2 BR $1,335/mo
Pennington County
SD · 2 BR $1,336/mo
Klickitat County
WA · 2 BR $1,336/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Wayne County
IL · 20.7% of income · 2 BR $916/mo
Pend Oreille County
WA · 20.7% of income · 2 BR $1,099/mo
White County
IL · 20.7% of income · 2 BR $916/mo
Brunswick County
VA · 20.7% of income · 2 BR $914/mo

Nearby Counties in Colorado

Largest counties by population in Colorado

Showing the 8 largest of 63 other counties in Colorado.

El Paso County
1 BR: $1,464/mo Pop: 730,323
Denver County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 710,800
Arapahoe County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 654,453
Jefferson County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 580,519
Adams County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 520,149
Douglas County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 360,206
Larimer County
1 BR: $1,537/mo Pop: 359,363
Weld County
1 BR: $1,238/mo Pop: 331,466
View all counties in Colorado →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Gunnison County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Gunnison County is $1,149 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,334 and a studio is $1,015.
How does Gunnison County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Gunnison County is 20% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,149 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Gunnison County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Gunnison County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,334 ranks #692 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Gunnison County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $45,960 ($3,830/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Gunnison County.
Is rent going up or down in Gunnison County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Gunnison County increased by 6.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,083 to $1,149.
Which jobs can afford rent in Gunnison County? ▼
Based on Colorado BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,149/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Gunnison County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Gunnison County went from $722 in FY 2020 to $1,149 in FY 2026, a total change of +59.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Gunnison County? ▼
In Gunnison County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,149/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 Gunnison County? ▼
For Gunnison County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,149/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.