County FMR · HUD FY2026

Howard County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Howard County, MD - 58% above the US average.

$1,511
1-bedroom FMR
$1,857
2-bedroom FMR
-5.8%
YoY change
+58%
vs US avg

The verdict

Howard is the 7th most expensive of 24 counties in Maryland by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #157 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has fallen 5.8% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#157
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#7
most expensive of 24 in Maryland (2BR)
+8%
vs the state average
$60,440
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (58.1%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Howard County, MD. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Howard County, Maryland at $1,511 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,857/mo and a studio is $1,362/mo. This is 58% higher than the national average of $959 and 8% above the Maryland average of $1,404.

Rent decreased5.8% from FY 2025 ($1,604), declining against the trend. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $60,440/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

Observed renter burden: 45.9% of the 33,966 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Maryland. Population: 332,011. Population grew 5.9% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Maryland's statewide growth of +2.8% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area HOWARD·COUNTY·MD·MD

Howard County, MD: $1,511/mo 1BR · #157 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA MD
  • 1BR-FMR $1,511
  • 2BR-FMR $1,857
  • RANK-UPPER #157
  • YOY-DOWN -5.8%
  • VSUS-HIGH +58%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +8% MD
  • INC-ROOM 12%
  • POP-MAJOR 332K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Montgomery County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,360–$1,662
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Montgomery ($504 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,314 · US avg: $893
$1,362/mo
↓ 3.2% YoY +4% vs state +53% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,404 · US avg: $959
$1,511/mo
↓ 5.8% YoY +8% vs state +58% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,657 · US avg: $1,175
$1,857/mo
↓ 5.5% YoY +12% vs state +58% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $2,133 · US avg: $1,525
$2,358/mo
↓ 6.8% YoY +11% vs state +55% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,449 · US avg: $1,756
$2,611/mo
↓ 7.6% YoY +7% vs state +49% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,407
$1,362
$-45 (-3.2%)
1 Bedroom $1,604
$1,511
$-93 (-5.8%)
2 Bedroom $1,965
$1,857
$-108 (-5.5%)
3 Bedroom $2,529
$2,358
$-171 (-6.8%)
4 Bedroom $2,826
$2,611
$-215 (-7.6%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
11.1%
Affordable
Need $54,480/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
12.3%
Affordable
Need $60,440/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
15.2%
Affordable
Need $74,280/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
19.3%
Affordable
Need $94,320/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
21.3%
Affordable
Need $104,440/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%15.2%
Howard County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $146,982 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Maryland rent burden →

Where Howard sits among every US county

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

$1,857 Top 5% higher than 95% 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%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Below this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Howard compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Maryland counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Howard is highlighted. Nearby Maryland counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Montgomery County ($2,015), Prince George's County ($2,015), Frederick County ($2,015), Howard County (this county) ($1,511), Baltimore County ($1,511), Anne Arundel County ($1,511), Baltimore city ($1,511).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,511/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Maryland BLS wages?

Occupation MD Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $137,890 13.1% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $105,320 17.2% Affordable
Registered Nurses $96,830 18.7% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $84,890 21.4% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $77,440 23.4% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $74,720 24.3% Affordable
Electricians $65,650 27.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $63,560 28.5% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $57,180 31.7% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $43,100 42.1% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $40,310 45% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $36,090 50.2% Unaffordable
Teaching Assistants $35,700 50.8% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $34,310 52.8% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $31,200 58.1% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Maryland) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Howard (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 36.7% overall, from $1,105 to $1,511. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 26.2% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600$1,800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,511
Howard County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓5.8% $1,362 $1,511 $1,857
FY 2025 ↑1.4% $1,407 $1,604 $1,965
FY 2024 ↑26.2% $1,379 $1,582 $1,943
FY 2023 ↑11.6% $1,082 $1,254 $1,548
FY 2022 ↑0.8% $953 $1,124 $1,395
FY 2021 ↑0.9% $917 $1,115 $1,384
FY 2020 $897 $1,105 $1,376
Total change (6yr): +36.7%
Annualized: +5.4%/yr
1 BR: $1,105 → $1,511

Part of the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metro Area

Howard County is a central county of the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metropolitan statistical area, alongside 6 other metro-area counties.

Howard County ranks #7 of 7 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Baltimore County ($1,511), Anne Arundel County ($1,511), Baltimore city ($1,511), Harford County ($1,511), Carroll County ($1,511), Queen Anne's County ($1,511), Howard County (this county) ($1,511).

Baltimore County
1 BR: $1,511/mo
Anne Arundel County
1 BR: $1,511/mo
Baltimore city
1 BR: $1,511/mo
Harford County
1 BR: $1,511/mo
Carroll County
1 BR: $1,511/mo
Queen Anne's County
1 BR: $1,511/mo
Howard County (this county)
1 BR: $1,511/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Howard County, both outside Maryland so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside MD (FY2026).

Travis County
TX · 2 BR $1,852/mo
Williamson County
TX · 2 BR $1,852/mo
Hays County
TX · 2 BR $1,852/mo
Bastrop County
TX · 2 BR $1,852/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MD).

Otoe County
NE · 15.1% of income · 2 BR $1,028/mo
Mercer County
OH · 15.2% of income · 2 BR $987/mo
Pierce County
NE · 15.2% of income · 2 BR $961/mo
Clay County
NE · 15.2% of income · 2 BR $961/mo

Nearby Counties in Maryland

Largest counties by population in Maryland

Showing the 8 largest of 23 other counties in Maryland.

Montgomery County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 1,056,910
Prince George's County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 957,189
Baltimore County
1 BR: $1,511/mo Pop: 850,737
Anne Arundel County
1 BR: $1,511/mo Pop: 588,109
Baltimore city
1 BR: $1,511/mo Pop: 584,548
Frederick County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 273,829
Harford County
1 BR: $1,511/mo Pop: 261,059
Carroll County
1 BR: $1,511/mo Pop: 173,225
View all counties in Maryland →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Howard County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Howard County is $1,511 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,857 and a studio is $1,362.
How does Howard County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Howard County is 58% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,511 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Howard County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Howard County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,857 ranks #157 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Howard County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $60,440 ($5,037/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Howard County.
Is rent going up or down in Howard County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Howard County decreased by 5.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,604 to $1,511.
Which jobs can afford rent in Howard County? ▼
Based on Maryland BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,511/mo. 8 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Howard County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Howard County went from $1,105 in FY 2020 to $1,511 in FY 2026, a total change of +36.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Howard County? ▼
In Howard County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,511/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 Howard County? ▼
For Howard County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,511/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.