County FMR · HUD FY2026
Hamilton County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Hamilton County, NY - 14% above the US average.
- $1,089
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,429
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +7.5%
- YoY change
- +14%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Hamilton is the 26th most expensive of 62 counties in New York by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #535 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 7.5% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #535
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #26
- most expensive of 62 in New York (2BR)
- -17%
- vs the state average
- $43,560
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (37.1%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Hamilton County, NY. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Hamilton County, New York is $1,089 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,429/mo and a studio is $1,075/mo. This is 14% higher than the national average of $959 and 17% below the New York average of $1,315.
Rent increased7.5% from FY 2025 ($1,013), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $43,560/year for a 1-bedroom.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in New York. Population: 5,090. Population grew 11.5% 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 New York's statewide growth of +1.3% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Hamilton 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, Hamilton County's 2-bedroom of $1,429 ranks #535 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
Hamilton County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (14% above the US average of $959), while sitting 17% below the New York average of $1,315. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$1,013 in FY 2025 to $1,089 in FY 2026, a change of +7.5%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,089, the 30% rule points to $43,560/year (about $3,630/month) versus this county's median household income of $68,950. A 2-bedroom at $1,429 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,006 | $1,075 | +$69 (+6.9%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,013 | $1,089 | +$76 (+7.5%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,329 | $1,429 | +$100 (+7.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,601 | $1,713 | +$112 (+7.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,762 | $1,892 | +$130 (+7.4%) |
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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,429 Top 17% higher than 83% 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 Hamilton compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other New York counties
- Kings
Kings County
$2,655 1BR FMR / mo
- Queens
Queens County
$2,655 1BR FMR / mo
- New York
New York County
$2,655 1BR FMR / mo
- Bronx
Bronx County
$2,655 1BR FMR / mo
- Suffolk
Suffolk County
$2,379 1BR FMR / mo
- Nassau
Nassau County
$2,379 1BR FMR / mo
- Hamilton
Hamilton County
$1,089 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Hamilton is highlighted. Nearby New York counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Kings County ($2,655), Queens County ($2,655), New York County ($2,655), Bronx County ($2,655), Suffolk County ($2,379), Nassau County ($2,379), Hamilton County (this county) ($1,089).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,089/mo compares to New York salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | NY Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $161,260 | 8.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $129,990 | 10.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $105,600 | 12.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $101,780 | 12.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $93,050 | 14% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $82,480 | 15.8% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $77,460 | 16.9% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $66,390 | 19.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,520 | 21.6% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $47,840 | 27.3% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $40,840 | 32% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $39,920 | 32.7% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $37,020 | 35.3% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,600 | 35.7% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $35,270 | 37.1% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Hamilton County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Hamilton (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 69.6% overall, from $642 to $1,089. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.7% in FY 2025, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑7.5% | $1,075 | $1,089 | $1,429 |
| FY 2025 ↑16.7% | $1,006 | $1,013 | $1,329 |
| FY 2024 ↑12.7% | $862 | $868 | $1,140 |
| FY 2023 ↑12.9% | $765 | $770 | $1,013 |
| FY 2022 ↓2.6% | $677 | $682 | $897 |
| FY 2021 ↑9.0% | $695 | $700 | $922 |
| FY 2020 | $638 | $642 | $846 |
Where Hamilton County Ranks in New York
Hamilton 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 #37 of 62 counties in New York. Nearest by rank: Niagara County ($1,343), Warren County ($1,348), Washington County ($1,348), Greene County ($1,373), Madison County ($1,392), Onondaga County ($1,392), Oswego County ($1,392), Jefferson County ($1,405), Hamilton County (this county) ($1,429), Columbia County ($1,434), Livingston County ($1,573), Monroe County ($1,573), Ontario County ($1,573), Orleans County ($1,573), Wayne County ($1,573), Albany County ($1,702), Rensselaer County ($1,702).
Nearby Counties in New York
Largest counties by population in New York
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Hamilton County? ▼
How does Hamilton County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Hamilton County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Hamilton County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Hamilton County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Hamilton County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Hamilton County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Hamilton County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Hamilton County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Hamilton'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 $1,089 implies about $43,560/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 Hamilton 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.