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; nationally it ranks #818 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 5.8% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #818
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #23
- cheapest of 67 in Florida (2BR)
- -22%
- vs the state average
- $40,240
- income to afford it (30% rule)
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. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $40,240/year for a 1-bedroom.
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
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, Highlands County's 2-bedroom of $1,271 ranks #818 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.
Highlands County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (5% above the US average of $959), while sitting 22% below the Florida 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, the 30% rule points to $40,240/year (about $3,353/month) versus this county's median household income of $55,581. A 2-bedroom at $1,271 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
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:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Highlands 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 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
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
- Miami-Dade
Miami-Dade County
$1,995 1BR FMR / mo
- Palm Beach
Palm Beach County
$1,901 1BR FMR / mo
- Broward
Broward County
$1,900 1BR FMR / mo
- Orange
Orange County
$1,731 1BR FMR / mo
- Hillsborough
Hillsborough County
$1,696 1BR FMR / mo
- Duval
Duval County
$1,382 1BR FMR / mo
- Highlands
Highlands County
$1,006 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).
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 |
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.
| 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 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Highlands County? ▼
How does Highlands County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Highlands County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Highlands County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Highlands County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Highlands County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Highlands County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Highlands County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Highlands County? ▼
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.
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.