County FMR · HUD FY2026

Humboldt County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Humboldt County, CA - 24% above the US average.

$1,186
1-bedroom FMR
$1,550
2-bedroom FMR
+4.8%
YoY change
+24%
vs US avg

The verdict

Humboldt is the 22nd cheapest of 58 counties in California by 2-bedroom FMR.

#22
cheapest of 58 in California (2BR)
-28%
vs the state average
$47,440
income to afford it (30% rule)
+4.8%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (38.5%); nearby California counties range as much as 68% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Humboldt County, CA. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Humboldt County, California at $1,186 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,550/mo and a studio is $1,112/mo. This is 24% higher than the national average of $959 and 28% below the California average of $1,647.

Rent increased4.8% from FY 2025 ($1,132), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $47,440/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in California. Population: 136,132. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.3%, Census ACS). That's in line with California's statewide growth of +0.2% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Humboldt County

The Humboldt County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and California'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.

Humboldt County's 1-bedroom rent runs 24% above the US average of $959 and 28% lower than the California state average of $1,647. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$1,132 in FY 2025 to $1,186 in FY 2026 - a change of +4.8%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,186, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $47,440 per year (about $3,953/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,550 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 136,132 and a county median household income of $61,135, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,513 · US avg: $893
$1,112/mo
↑ 4.4% YoY -27% vs state +25% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,647 · US avg: $959
$1,186/mo
↑ 4.8% YoY -28% vs state +24% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $2,053 · US avg: $1,175
$1,550/mo
↑ 4.9% YoY -25% vs state +32% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $2,752 · US avg: $1,525
$2,156/mo
↑ 4.1% YoY -22% vs state +41% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $3,165 · US avg: $1,756
$2,600/mo
↑ 4.8% YoY -18% vs state +48% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,065
$1,112
+$47 (+4.4%)
1 Bedroom $1,132
$1,186
+$54 (+4.8%)
2 Bedroom $1,478
$1,550
+$72 (+4.9%)
3 Bedroom $2,071
$2,156
+$85 (+4.1%)
4 Bedroom $2,482
$2,600
+$118 (+4.8%)

Affordability Snapshot

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

Required annual income for 1 BR
$47,440
$3,953/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$62,000
$5,167/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
21.8%
Affordable
Need $44,480/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
23.3%
Affordable
Need $47,440/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
30.4%
Burdened
Need $62,000/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
42.3%
Burdened
Need $86,240/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
51%
Severe
Need $104,000/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.

Humboldt County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%30.4%
Humboldt County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $61,135 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View California rent burden →

Where Humboldt sits among every US county

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

$1,550 Top 14% higher than 86% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Humboldt compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other California counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Humboldt is highlighted. Nearby California counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Santa Clara County ($2,982), Orange County ($2,746), San Diego County ($2,459), Los Angeles County ($2,085), Riverside County ($1,777), San Bernardino County ($1,777), Humboldt County (this county) ($1,186).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,186/mo compares to California salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation CA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $170,910 8.3% Affordable
Registered Nurses $140,330 10.1% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $125,240 11.4% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $115,400 12.3% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $98,190 14.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $96,360 14.8% Affordable
Electricians $76,540 18.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $72,960 19.5% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,950 23.7% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $49,640 28.7% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $47,790 29.8% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $45,460 31.3% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $38,640 36.8% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $37,250 38.2% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $37,010 38.5% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (California) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Humboldt (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 47.1% overall, from $806 to $1,186. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +13.8% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$700$800$900$1,000$1,100$1,200$1,300 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,186
Humboldt County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑4.8% $1,112 $1,186 $1,550
FY 2025 ↑9.7% $1,065 $1,132 $1,478
FY 2024 ↑13.8% $950 $1,032 $1,352
FY 2023 ↑5.2% $812 $907 $1,183
FY 2022 ↓0.1% $741 $862 $1,112
FY 2021 ↑7.1% $741 $863 $1,113
FY 2020 $687 $806 $1,040
Total change (6yr): +47.1%
Annualized: +6.6%/yr
1 BR: $806 → $1,186

Part of the Eureka-Arcata, CA Micro Area

Humboldt County is a central county of the Eureka-Arcata, CA micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in California

Largest counties by population in California

Los Angeles County
1 BR: $2,085/mo Pop: 9,936,690
San Diego County
1 BR: $2,459/mo Pop: 3,289,701
Orange County
1 BR: $2,746/mo Pop: 3,175,227
Riverside County
1 BR: $1,777/mo Pop: 2,429,487
San Bernardino County
1 BR: $1,777/mo Pop: 2,180,563
Santa Clara County
1 BR: $2,982/mo Pop: 1,916,831
Alameda County
1 BR: $2,385/mo Pop: 1,663,823
Sacramento County
1 BR: $1,832/mo Pop: 1,579,211
View all counties in California →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Humboldt County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Humboldt County is $1,186 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,550 and a studio is $1,112.
How does Humboldt County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Humboldt County is 24% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,186 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Humboldt County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $47,440 ($3,953/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Humboldt County.
Is rent going up or down in Humboldt County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Humboldt County increased by 4.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,132 to $1,186.
Which jobs can afford rent in Humboldt County? ▼
Based on California BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,186/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Humboldt County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Humboldt County went from $806 in FY 2020 to $1,186 in FY 2026, a total change of +47.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Humboldt County? ▼
In Humboldt County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,186/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 Humboldt County? ▼
For Humboldt County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,186/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Humboldt'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 $1,186 implies about $47,440/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 Humboldt 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.