County FMR · HUD FY2026
Hampshire County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Hampshire County, WV - 31% above the US average.
- $1,255
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,573
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +0.2%
- YoY change
- +31%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Hampshire is the 1st most expensive of 55 counties in West Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #409 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #409
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #1
- most expensive of 55 in West Virginia (2BR)
- +64%
- vs the state average
- $50,200
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (14.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (60.3%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Hampshire County, WV. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Hampshire County, West Virginia is $1,255 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,573/mo and a studio is $1,133/mo. This is 31% higher than the national average of $959 and 64% above the West Virginia average of $766.
Rent increased0.2% from FY 2025 ($1,253), roughly tracking inflation. A household needs about $50,200/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in West Virginia. Population: 23,275. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.1%, Census ACS). That's faster than West Virginia's statewide growth of -2.4% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Hampshire 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, Hampshire County's 2-bedroom of $1,573 ranks #409 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
Rents run meaningfully above the national benchmark: 1-bedroom FMR is 31% higher than the US average of $959 (64% above West Virginia's $766). From FY 2025 to FY 2026 the 1-bedroom schedule moved $1,253 → $1,255 (+0.2%), roughly holding the premium in place.
At $1,255/mo for a 1-bedroom, the 30% rule wants $50,200/year: still within reach of the county median income of $60,299, though a 2-bedroom at $1,573 raises the bar.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,095 | $1,133 | +$38 (+3.5%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,253 | $1,255 | +$2 (+0.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,569 | $1,573 | +$4 (+0.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,952 | $1,965 | +$13 (+0.7%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,635 | $2,639 | +$4 (+0.2%) |
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 Hampshire 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 Hampshire sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,573 Top 13% higher than 87% 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 Hampshire compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other West Virginia counties
- Hampshire
Hampshire County
$1,255 1BR FMR / mo
- Berkeley
Berkeley County
$971 1BR FMR / mo
- Monongalia
Monongalia County
$877 1BR FMR / mo
- Cabell
Cabell County
$853 1BR FMR / mo
- Kanawha
Kanawha County
$829 1BR FMR / mo
- Wood
Wood County
$745 1BR FMR / mo
- Raleigh
Raleigh County
$719 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Hampshire is highlighted. Nearby West Virginia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Hampshire County (this county) ($1,255), Berkeley County ($971), Monongalia County ($877), Cabell County ($853), Kanawha County ($829), Wood County ($745), Raleigh County ($719).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,255/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using West Virginia BLS wages?
| Occupation | WV Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $103,550 | 14.5% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $80,490 | 18.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,990 | 18.8% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $74,520 | 20.2% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $63,850 | 23.6% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $55,550 | 27.1% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $54,570 | 27.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $49,620 | 30.4% | Stretched |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $49,040 | 30.7% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,610 | 40% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,370 | 40.3% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $30,590 | 49.2% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $28,220 | 53.4% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $27,910 | 54% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $24,960 | 60.3% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Hampshire County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Hampshire (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 60.3% overall, from $783 to $1,255. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.8% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑0.2% | $1,133 | $1,255 | $1,573 |
| FY 2025 ↑13.5% | $1,095 | $1,253 | $1,569 |
| FY 2024 ↑14.8% | $983 | $1,104 | $1,390 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.8% | $879 | $962 | $1,227 |
| FY 2022 ↑6.0% | $868 | $868 | $1,117 |
| FY 2021 ↑4.6% | $814 | $819 | $1,064 |
| FY 2020 | $778 | $783 | $1,027 |
Part of the Winchester, VA-WV Metro Area
Hampshire County is a outlying county of the Winchester, VA-WV metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Hampshire County ranks #3 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Frederick County ($1,255), Winchester city ($1,255), Hampshire County (this county) ($1,255).
Nearby Counties in West Virginia
Largest counties by population in West Virginia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Hampshire County? ▼
How does Hampshire County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Hampshire County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Hampshire County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Hampshire County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Hampshire County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Hampshire County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Hampshire County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Hampshire County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Hampshire'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 $1,255 implies about $50,200/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 Hampshire 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.