County FMR · HUD FY2026
Hancock County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Hancock County, ME - 29% above the US average.
- $1,234
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,501
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +21.3%
- YoY change
- +29%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Hancock is the 6th most expensive of 16 counties in Maine by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #472 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 21.3% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #472
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #6
- most expensive of 16 in Maine (2BR)
- +7%
- vs the state average
- $49,360
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (43.1%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Hancock County, ME. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Hancock County, Maine at $1,234 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,501/mo and a studio is $1,227/mo. This is 29% higher than the national average of $959 and 7% above the Maine average of $1,153.
Rent increased21.3% from FY 2025 ($1,017), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $49,360/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Maine. Population: 393. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.8%, Census ACS). That's in line with Maine's statewide growth of +3.3% 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 $1,501 ranks #472 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 29% higher than the US average of $959 (7% above Maine's $1,153). From FY 2025 to FY 2026 the 1-bedroom schedule moved $1,017 → $1,234 (+21.3%), widening an already-expensive gap versus national norms.
At $1,234/mo for a 1-bedroom, the 30% rule wants $49,360/year: still within reach of the county median income of $69,630, though a 2-bedroom at $1,501 raises the bar.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,011 | $1,227 | +$216 (+21.4%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,017 | $1,234 | +$217 (+21.3%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,202 | $1,501 | +$299 (+24.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,588 | $2,047 | +$459 (+28.9%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,594 | $2,055 | +$461 (+28.9%) |
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 Hancock 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 Hancock sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,501 Top 15% higher than 85% 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 Hancock compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Maine counties
- York
York County
$1,412 1BR FMR / mo
- Knox
Knox County
$1,270 1BR FMR / mo
- Hancock
Hancock County
$1,234 1BR FMR / mo
- Androscoggin
Androscoggin County
$1,218 1BR FMR / mo
- Waldo
Waldo County
$1,163 1BR FMR / mo
- Kennebec
Kennebec County
$1,090 1BR FMR / mo
- Somerset
Somerset County
$1,083 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Hancock is highlighted. Nearby Maine counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: York County ($1,412), Knox County ($1,270), Hancock County (this county) ($1,234), Androscoggin County ($1,218), Waldo County ($1,163), Kennebec County ($1,090), Somerset County ($1,083).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,234/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Maine BLS wages?
| Occupation | ME Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $113,800 | 13% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $96,740 | 15.3% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | 17.9% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,680 | 19.1% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $67,820 | 21.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $65,330 | 22.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,300 | 23.8% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $58,510 | 25.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $51,930 | 28.5% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $45,240 | 32.7% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $43,870 | 33.8% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $40,950 | 36.2% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $38,560 | 38.4% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,460 | 40.6% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $34,360 | 43.1% | Stretched |
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 62.6% overall, from $759 to $1,234. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +21.3% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑21.3% | $1,227 | $1,234 | $1,501 |
| FY 2025 ↑1.5% | $1,011 | $1,017 | $1,202 |
| FY 2024 ↑13.6% | $996 | $1,002 | $1,188 |
| FY 2023 ↑8.5% | $877 | $882 | $1,036 |
| FY 2022 ↑4.0% | $785 | $813 | $959 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.0% | $746 | $782 | $920 |
| FY 2020 | $726 | $759 | $894 |
Where Hancock County Ranks in Maine
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 #11 of 16 counties in Maine. Nearest by rank: Lincoln County ($1,403), Kennebec County ($1,416), Piscataquis County ($1,419), Waldo County ($1,438), Hancock County (this county) ($1,501), Knox County ($1,526), Sagadahoc County ($1,577), Androscoggin County ($1,586), York County ($1,716).
Nearby Counties in Maine
Largest counties by population in Maine
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Hancock County? ▼
How does Hancock County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Hancock County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Hancock County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Hancock County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Hancock County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Hancock County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Hancock County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Hancock County? ▼
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 $1,234 implies about $49,360/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.
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.