County FMR · HUD FY2026
Highland County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Highland County, OH - 12% below the US average.
- $845
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $973
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +12.5%
- YoY change
- -12%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Highland is the 11th cheapest of 88 counties in Ohio by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #976 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 12.5% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #976
- most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #11
- cheapest of 88 in Ohio (2BR)
- -3%
- vs the state average
- $33,800
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (36.1%); 13 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Highland County, OH. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Highland County, Ohio at $845 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $973/mo and a studio is $736/mo. This is 12% lower than the national average of $959 and 3% below the Ohio average of $873.
Rent increased12.5% from FY 2025 ($751), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $33,800/year for a 1-bedroom.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Ohio. Population: 43,285. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.9%, Census ACS). That's in line with Ohio's statewide growth of +1.2% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Highland 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, Highland County's 2-bedroom of $973 ranks #976 most affordable of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.
Highland County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (12% below the US average of $959), while sitting 3% below the Ohio average of $873. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$751 in FY 2025 to $845 in FY 2026, a change of +12.5%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $845, the 30% rule points to $33,800/year (about $2,817/month) versus this county's median household income of $62,008. A 2-bedroom at $973 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $664 | $736 | +$72 (+10.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $751 | $845 | +$94 (+12.5%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $884 | $973 | +$89 (+10.1%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,065 | $1,167 | +$102 (+9.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,396 | $1,492 | +$96 (+6.9%) |
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 Highland 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 Highland sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$973 higher than 31% 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 Highland compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Ohio counties
- Franklin
Franklin County
$1,194 1BR FMR / mo
- Cuyahoga
Cuyahoga County
$1,058 1BR FMR / mo
- Hamilton
Hamilton County
$1,051 1BR FMR / mo
- Montgomery
Montgomery County
$1,009 1BR FMR / mo
- Summit
Summit County
$985 1BR FMR / mo
- Highland
Highland County
$845 1BR FMR / mo
- Lucas
Lucas County
$820 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Highland is highlighted. Nearby Ohio counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Franklin County ($1,194), Cuyahoga County ($1,058), Hamilton County ($1,051), Montgomery County ($1,009), Summit County ($985), Highland County (this county) ($845), Lucas County ($820).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $845/mo compares to Ohio salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | OH Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $107,690 | 9.4% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $94,990 | 10.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $81,250 | 12.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,640 | 13.1% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $77,050 | 13.2% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $65,380 | 15.5% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $63,560 | 16% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $58,870 | 17.2% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,080 | 17.5% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,510 | 23.3% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,860 | 26.8% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $35,380 | 28.7% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $34,710 | 29.2% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,440 | 33.3% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,100 | 36.1% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Highland County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Highland (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 48.8% overall, from $568 to $845. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.5% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑12.5% | $736 | $845 | $973 |
| FY 2025 ↑6.4% | $664 | $751 | $884 |
| FY 2024 ↑9.3% | $639 | $706 | $860 |
| FY 2023 ↑8.8% | $587 | $646 | $794 |
| FY 2022 ↑0.7% | $590 | $594 | $738 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.9% | $587 | $590 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $517 | $568 | $696 |
Where Highland County Ranks in Ohio
Highland 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 88 counties in Ohio. Nearest by rank: Columbiana County ($973), Coshocton County ($973), Crawford County ($973), Darke County ($973), Gallia County ($973), Guernsey County ($973), Hardin County ($973), Harrison County ($973), Highland County (this county) ($973), Hocking County ($973), Holmes County ($973), Huron County ($973), Jackson County ($973), Jefferson County ($973), Lawrence County ($973), Mahoning County ($973), Meigs County ($973).
Nearby Counties in Ohio
Largest counties by population in Ohio
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Highland County? ▼
How does Highland County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Highland County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Highland County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Highland County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Highland County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Highland County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Highland County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Highland County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Highland'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 $845 implies about $33,800/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 Highland 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.