County FMR · HUD FY2026

Hancock County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Hancock County, GA - 20% below the US average.

$770
1-bedroom FMR
$973
2-bedroom FMR
+7.7%
YoY change
-20%
vs US avg

The verdict

Hancock is the 28th cheapest of 159 counties in Georgia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #976 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 7.7% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#976
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#28
cheapest of 159 in Georgia (2BR)
-25%
vs the state average
$30,800
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (35.1%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Hancock County, GA. Verify with HUD →

Hancock County, Georgia carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $770 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $973/mo and a studio is $765/mo. That's 20% below the national benchmark of $959 and 25% below the Georgia average of $1,023.

Rent increased7.7% from FY 2025 ($715), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $30,800/year.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Georgia. Population: 8,588. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.1%, Census ACS). That's slower than Georgia's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Hancock 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, Hancock County's 2-bedroom of $973 ranks #976 most affordable of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.

This is a below-average rent market: 1-bedroom FMR is 20% under the US average of $959 and 25% below Georgia's $1,023. HUD's 1-bedroom figure shifted from $715 (FY 2025) to $770 (FY 2026), a +7.7% move that still leaves this county below the US mid-point.

A 1-bedroom at $770 needs $30,800/year under the 30% rule against a county median of $33,182, and the median household clears that line with room to spare. A 2-bedroom at $973 is the next step up.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $979 · US avg: $893
$765/mo
↑ 7.7% YoY -22% vs state -14% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,023 · US avg: $959
$770/mo
↑ 7.7% YoY -25% vs state -20% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,203 · US avg: $1,175
$973/mo
↑ 7.5% YoY -19% vs state -17% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,524 · US avg: $1,525
$1,252/mo
↑ 7.7% YoY -18% vs state -18% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,775 · US avg: $1,756
$1,632/mo
↑ 7.4% YoY -8% vs state -7% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $710
$765
+$55 (+7.7%)
1 Bedroom $715
$770
+$55 (+7.7%)
2 Bedroom $905
$973
+$68 (+7.5%)
3 Bedroom $1,162
$1,252
+$90 (+7.7%)
4 Bedroom $1,520
$1,632
+$112 (+7.4%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$30,800
$2,567/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$38,920
$3,243/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
27.7%
Affordable
Need $30,600/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
27.8%
Affordable
Need $30,800/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
35.2%
Burdened
Need $38,920/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
45.3%
Burdened
Need $50,080/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
59%
Severe
Need $65,280/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%35.2%
Hancock County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $33,182 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Georgia rent burden →

Where Hancock sits among every US county

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

$973 higher than 31% 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 Hancock compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Georgia counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Hancock is highlighted. Nearby Georgia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fulton County ($1,660), Gwinnett County ($1,660), Cobb County ($1,660), DeKalb County ($1,660), Clayton County ($1,660), Chatham County ($1,533), Hancock County (this county) ($770).

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 $770/mo, most of these Georgia occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation GA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $128,920 7.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $99,800 9.3% Affordable
Registered Nurses $86,560 10.7% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $80,100 11.5% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $63,490 14.6% Affordable
Electricians $58,860 15.7% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $56,570 16.3% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $56,350 16.4% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $55,120 16.8% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,030 23.7% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $38,390 24.1% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $33,130 27.9% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $29,770 31% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $27,860 33.2% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $26,310 35.1% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Georgia) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Hancock (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 49.2% overall, from $516 to $770. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +21.2% in FY 2022, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$400$500$600$700$800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $770
Hancock County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑7.7% $765 $770 $973
FY 2025 ↑2.6% $710 $715 $905
FY 2024 ↑1.9% $693 $697 $885
FY 2023 ↑10.7% $648 $684 $772
FY 2022 ↑21.2% $590 $618 $704
FY 2021 ↓1.2% $507 $510 $648
FY 2020 $513 $516 $651
Total change (6yr): +49.2%
Annualized: +6.9%/yr
1 BR: $516 → $770

Where Hancock County Ranks in Georgia

Hancock 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 #28 of 159 counties in Georgia. Nearest by rank: Dooly County ($973), Early County ($973), Emanuel County ($973), Evans County ($973), Fannin County ($973), Glascock County ($973), Grady County ($973), Greene County ($973), Hancock County (this county) ($973), Jeff Davis County ($973), Jefferson County ($973), Jenkins County ($973), Johnson County ($973), Lamar County ($973), Laurens County ($973), Macon County ($973), Miller County ($973).

Dooly County
2 BR: $973/mo
Early County
2 BR: $973/mo
Emanuel County
2 BR: $973/mo
Evans County
2 BR: $973/mo
Fannin County
2 BR: $973/mo
Glascock County
2 BR: $973/mo
Grady County
2 BR: $973/mo
Greene County
2 BR: $973/mo
Hancock County (this county)
2 BR: $973/mo
Jeff Davis County
2 BR: $973/mo
Jefferson County
2 BR: $973/mo
Jenkins County
2 BR: $973/mo
Johnson County
2 BR: $973/mo
Lamar County
2 BR: $973/mo
Laurens County
2 BR: $973/mo
Macon County
2 BR: $973/mo
Miller County
2 BR: $973/mo

Nearby Counties in Georgia

Largest counties by population in Georgia

Fulton County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 1,061,944
Gwinnett County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 957,977
Cobb County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 765,813
DeKalb County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 761,209
Clayton County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 296,312
Chatham County
1 BR: $1,533/mo Pop: 296,266
Cherokee County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 268,567
Forsyth County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 253,225
View all counties in Georgia →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Hancock County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Hancock County is $770 per month. A 2-bedroom is $973 and a studio is $765.
How does Hancock County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Hancock County is 20% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $770 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Hancock County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Hancock County's 2-bedroom FMR of $973 ranks #976 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Hancock County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $30,800 ($2,567/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Hancock County.
Is rent going up or down in Hancock County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Hancock County increased by 7.7% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $715 to $770.
Which jobs can afford rent in Hancock County? ▼
Based on Georgia BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $770/mo. 12 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Hancock County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Hancock County went from $516 in FY 2020 to $770 in FY 2026, a total change of +49.2% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Hancock County? ▼
In Hancock County, the FY 2026 FMR of $770/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 Hancock County? ▼
For Hancock County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($770/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Hancock'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 $770 implies about $30,800/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 Hancock 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.

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.