County FMR · HUD FY2026
Hunterdon County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Hunterdon County, NJ - 106% above the US average.
- $1,978
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $2,486
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +14.3%
- YoY change
- +106%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Hunterdon is the 4th most expensive of 21 counties in New Jersey by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #31 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 14.3% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #31
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #4
- most expensive of 21 in New Jersey (2BR)
- +12%
- vs the state average
- $79,120
- income to afford it (30% rule)
General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (15.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (71.3%); only 5 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 Hunterdon County, NJ. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Hunterdon County, New Jersey at $1,978 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $2,486/mo and a studio is $1,804/mo. This is 106% higher than the national average of $959 and 12% above the New Jersey average of $1,759.
Rent increased14.3% from FY 2025 ($1,731), outpacing inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $79,120/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in New Jersey. Population: 129,099. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.5%, Census ACS). That's in line with New Jersey's statewide growth of +4.3% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Hunterdon 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, Hunterdon County's 2-bedroom of $2,486 ranks #31 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
Hunterdon County sits in the expensive tier: 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent is 106% above the US average of $959, and 12% above the New Jersey average of $1,759. Voucher payment standards and renter budgets both feel that premium. From FY 2025 to FY 2026 the 1-bedroom schedule moved $1,731 → $1,978 (+14.3%), widening an already-expensive gap versus national norms.
At $1,978/mo for a 1-bedroom, the 30% rule wants $79,120/year: still within reach of the county median income of $139,453, though a 2-bedroom at $2,486 raises the bar.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,540 | $1,804 | +$264 (+17.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,731 | $1,978 | +$247 (+14.3%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $2,176 | $2,486 | +$310 (+14.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,622 | $2,981 | +$359 (+13.7%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,885 | $3,296 | +$411 (+14.2%) |
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 Hunterdon 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 Hunterdon sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$2,486 Top 1% higher than 99% 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 Hunterdon compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other New Jersey counties
- Hudson
Hudson County
$2,458 1BR FMR / mo
- Bergen
Bergen County
$2,024 1BR FMR / mo
- Hunterdon
Hunterdon County
$1,978 1BR FMR / mo
- Middlesex
Middlesex County
$1,978 1BR FMR / mo
- Monmouth
Monmouth County
$1,889 1BR FMR / mo
- Ocean
Ocean County
$1,889 1BR FMR / mo
- Essex
Essex County
$1,822 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Hunterdon is highlighted. Nearby New Jersey counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Hudson County ($2,458), Bergen County ($2,024), Hunterdon County (this county) ($1,978), Middlesex County ($1,978), Monmouth County ($1,889), Ocean County ($1,889), Essex County ($1,822).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,978/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using New Jersey BLS wages?
| Occupation | NJ Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| General & Operations Managers | $149,990 | 15.8% | Affordable |
| Software Developers | $132,400 | 17.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $102,730 | 23.1% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $101,340 | 23.4% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $89,030 | 26.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $77,150 | 30.8% | Stretched |
| Electricians | $73,090 | 32.5% | Stretched |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,720 | 36.7% | Stretched |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $62,790 | 37.8% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,740 | 50.8% | Unaffordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $38,890 | 61% | Unaffordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,320 | 63.6% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $35,620 | 66.6% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,630 | 66.6% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $33,290 | 71.3% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Hunterdon County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Hunterdon (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 43.1% overall, from $1,382 to $1,978. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 19.3% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑14.3% | $1,804 | $1,978 | $2,486 |
| FY 2025 ↓4.2% | $1,540 | $1,731 | $2,176 |
| FY 2024 ↑19.3% | $1,608 | $1,807 | $2,276 |
| FY 2023 ↑4.1% | $1,336 | $1,515 | $1,917 |
| FY 2022 ↑6.1% | $1,275 | $1,455 | $1,851 |
| FY 2021 ↓0.8% | $1,204 | $1,371 | $1,753 |
| FY 2020 | $1,193 | $1,382 | $1,770 |
Part of the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ Metro Area
Hunterdon County is a outlying county of the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, alongside 21 other metro-area counties.
Hunterdon County ranks #16 of 22 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Kings County ($2,655), Queens County ($2,655), New York County ($2,655), Bronx County ($2,655), Westchester County ($2,655), Richmond County ($2,655), Rockland County ($2,655), Putnam County ($2,655), Hudson County ($2,458), Suffolk County ($2,379), Nassau County ($2,379), Bergen County ($2,024), Passaic County ($2,024), Middlesex County ($1,978), Somerset County ($1,978), Hunterdon County (this county) ($1,978), Monmouth County ($1,889), Ocean County ($1,889), Essex County ($1,822), Union County ($1,822), Morris County ($1,822), Sussex County ($1,822).
Show all 22 counties in this metro area
Nearby Counties in New Jersey
Largest counties by population in New Jersey
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Hunterdon County? ▼
How does Hunterdon County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Hunterdon County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Hunterdon County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Hunterdon County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Hunterdon County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Hunterdon County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Hunterdon County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Hunterdon County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Hunterdon'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 $1,978 implies about $79,120/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 Hunterdon 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.