County FMR · HUD FY2026

Highlands County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Highlands County, FL - 5% above the US average.

$1,006
1-bedroom FMR
$1,271
2-bedroom FMR
+5.8%
YoY change
+5%
vs US avg

The verdict

Highlands is the 23rd cheapest of 67 counties in Florida by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 5.8% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#23
cheapest of 67 in Florida (2BR)
-22%
vs the state average
$40,240
income to afford it (30% rule)
+5.8%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (43.1%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Highlands County, FL. Verify with HUD →

Highlands County, Florida carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,006 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,271/mo and a studio is $876/mo. That's 5% above the national benchmark of $959 and 22% below the Florida average of $1,296.

Rent increased5.8% from FY 2025 ($951), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $40,240/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Florida. Population: 102,339. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.7%, Census ACS). That's slower than Florida's statewide growth of +6.5% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Highlands County

The Highlands County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Florida's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.

Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 5% above the US average of $959 and 22% lower than the Florida state average of $1,296. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$951 in FY 2025 to $1,006 in FY 2026 - a change of +5.8%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,006, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $40,240 per year (about $3,353/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,271 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 102,339 and a county median household income of $55,581, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,212 · US avg: $893
$876/mo
↑ 3.1% YoY -28% vs state -2% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,296 · US avg: $959
$1,006/mo
↑ 5.8% YoY -22% vs state +5% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,526 · US avg: $1,175
$1,271/mo
↑ 2.5% YoY -17% vs state +8% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,971 · US avg: $1,525
$1,538/mo
↑ 0.9% YoY -22% vs state +1% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,261 · US avg: $1,756
$2,017/mo
↑ 1.5% YoY -11% vs state +15% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $850
$876
+$26 (+3.1%)
1 Bedroom $951
$1,006
+$55 (+5.8%)
2 Bedroom $1,240
$1,271
+$31 (+2.5%)
3 Bedroom $1,525
$1,538
+$13 (+0.9%)
4 Bedroom $1,987
$2,017
+$30 (+1.5%)

Affordability Snapshot

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

Required annual income for 1 BR
$40,240
$3,353/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$50,840
$4,237/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
18.9%
Affordable
Need $35,040/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
21.7%
Affordable
Need $40,240/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
27.4%
Affordable
Need $50,840/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
33.2%
Burdened
Need $61,520/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
43.5%
Burdened
Need $80,680/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.

Highlands County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%27.4%
Highlands County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $55,581 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Florida rent burden →

Where Highlands sits among every US county

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

$1,271 Top 26% higher than 74% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Highlands compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Florida counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Highlands is highlighted. Nearby Florida counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Miami-Dade County ($1,995), Palm Beach County ($1,901), Broward County ($1,900), Orange County ($1,731), Hillsborough County ($1,696), Duval County ($1,382), Highlands County (this county) ($1,006).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,006/mo compares to Florida salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation FL Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $126,550 9.5% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $100,750 12% Affordable
Registered Nurses $82,850 14.6% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $78,470 15.4% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $76,190 15.8% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $60,280 20% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $55,550 21.7% Affordable
Electricians $53,100 22.7% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,000 24.1% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $39,640 30.5% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $38,890 31% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $31,950 37.8% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $31,540 38.3% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $30,230 39.9% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $27,990 43.1% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Florida) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Highlands (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 56.5% overall, from $643 to $1,006. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.3% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$700$800$900$1,000$1,100 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,006
Highlands County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑5.8% $876 $1,006 $1,271
FY 2025 ↑11.9% $850 $951 $1,240
FY 2024 ↑12.3% $757 $850 $1,117
FY 2023 ↑6.8% $707 $757 $997
FY 2022 ↑7.3% $642 $709 $933
FY 2021 ↑2.8% $575 $661 $871
FY 2020 $552 $643 $847
Total change (6yr): +56.5%
Annualized: +7.7%/yr
1 BR: $643 → $1,006

Part of the Sebring, FL Metro Area

Highlands County is a central county of the Sebring, FL metropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in Florida

Largest counties by population in Florida

Miami-Dade County
1 BR: $1,995/mo Pop: 2,688,237
Broward County
1 BR: $1,900/mo Pop: 1,940,907
Palm Beach County
1 BR: $1,901/mo Pop: 1,494,805
Hillsborough County
1 BR: $1,696/mo Pop: 1,468,560
Orange County
1 BR: $1,731/mo Pop: 1,427,403
Duval County
1 BR: $1,382/mo Pop: 995,708
Pinellas County
1 BR: $1,696/mo Pop: 959,918
Lee County
1 BR: $1,638/mo Pop: 772,902
View all counties in Florida →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Highlands County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Highlands County is $1,006 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,271 and a studio is $876.
How does Highlands County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Highlands County is 5% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,006 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Highlands County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $40,240 ($3,353/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Highlands County.
Is rent going up or down in Highlands County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Highlands County increased by 5.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $951 to $1,006.
Which jobs can afford rent in Highlands County? ▼
Based on Florida BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,006/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Highlands County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Highlands County went from $643 in FY 2020 to $1,006 in FY 2026, a total change of +56.5% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Highlands County? ▼
In Highlands County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,006/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 Highlands County? ▼
For Highlands County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,006/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Highlands'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 $1,006 implies about $40,240/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 Highlands 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.