County FMR · HUD FY2026
Idaho County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Idaho County, ID - 17% below the US average.
- $799
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,049
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +7.8%
- YoY change
- -17%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Idaho is the 16th cheapest of 44 counties in Idaho by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,478 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 7.8% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #1,478
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #16
- cheapest of 44 in Idaho (2BR)
- -16%
- vs the state average
- $31,960
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (33.7%); 13 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Idaho counties range as much as 54% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Idaho County, ID. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Idaho County, Idaho at $799 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,049/mo and a studio is $723/mo. This is 17% lower than the national average of $959 and 16% below the Idaho average of $950.
Rent increased7.8% from FY 2025 ($741), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $31,960/year.
Observed renter burden: 39.1% of the 1,307 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.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 5.8%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.6% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Idaho. Population: 16,787. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+4.8%, Census ACS). That's slower than Idaho's statewide growth of +12.2% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area IDAHO·COUNTY·ID·ID
Idaho County, ID: $799/mo 1BR · #1478 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA ID
- 1BR-FMR $799
- 2BR-FMR $1,049
- RANK-MID #1,478
- YOY-SURGE +7.8%
- VSUS-BELOW -17%
- VS-ST-LOW -16% ID
- INC-ROOM 16%
- POP-SMALL 17K
- PHOTO-NEAR Ada County
- VOUCH-90-110 $719–$879
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Ada ($582 1BR gap)
Read with: Section 8 housing guide
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $667 | $723 | +$56 (+8.4%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $741 | $799 | +$58 (+7.8%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $972 | $1,049 | +$77 (+7.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,347 | $1,459 | +$112 (+8.3%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,632 | $1,760 | +$128 (+7.8%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Idaho 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 Idaho sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,049 higher than 53% 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 Idaho compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Idaho counties
- Ada
Ada County
$1,381 1BR FMR / mo
- Canyon
Canyon County
$1,381 1BR FMR / mo
- Kootenai
Kootenai County
$1,302 1BR FMR / mo
- Bonneville
Bonneville County
$1,095 1BR FMR / mo
- Twin Falls
Twin Falls County
$979 1BR FMR / mo
- Bannock
Bannock County
$894 1BR FMR / mo
- Idaho
Idaho County
$799 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Idaho is highlighted. Nearby Idaho counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Ada County ($1,381), Canyon County ($1,381), Kootenai County ($1,302), Bonneville County ($1,095), Twin Falls County ($979), Bannock County ($894), Idaho County (this county) ($799).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
With a below-average 1-bedroom at $799/mo, most of these Idaho occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.
| Occupation | ID Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $107,900 | 8.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $86,100 | 11.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $76,480 | 12.5% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $66,150 | 14.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $64,840 | 14.8% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $60,670 | 15.8% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $59,620 | 16.1% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $54,020 | 17.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $53,260 | 18% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $45,210 | 21.2% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,420 | 24.3% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,360 | 27.1% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,400 | 28.7% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,840 | 32.1% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,450 | 33.7% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Idaho County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Idaho (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 47.4% overall, from $542 to $799. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.8% (FY 2022).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑7.8% | $723 | $799 | $1,049 |
| FY 2025 ↓5.6% | $667 | $741 | $972 |
| FY 2024 ↑9.5% | $699 | $785 | $1,032 |
| FY 2023 ↑9.6% | $631 | $717 | $944 |
| FY 2022 ↑10.8% | $649 | $654 | $860 |
| FY 2021 ↑8.9% | $586 | $590 | $777 |
| FY 2020 | $526 | $542 | $714 |
Where Idaho County Ranks in Idaho
Idaho County is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #16 of 44 counties in Idaho. Nearest by rank: Lincoln County ($973), Power County ($973), Lemhi County ($992), Latah County ($1,011), Minidoka County ($1,022), Gooding County ($1,026), Cassia County ($1,028), Idaho County (this county) ($1,049), Camas County ($1,071), Payette County ($1,071), Clearwater County ($1,077), Benewah County ($1,079), Custer County ($1,079), Oneida County ($1,096), Madison County ($1,105).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Idaho County, both outside Idaho 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 ID (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside ID).
Nearby Counties in Idaho
Largest counties by population in Idaho
Showing the 8 largest of 43 other counties in Idaho.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Idaho County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Idaho County is $799 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,049 and a studio is $723.
How does Idaho County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Idaho County is 17% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $799 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Idaho County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Idaho County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,049 ranks #1,478 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Idaho County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $31,960 ($2,663/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Idaho County.
Is rent going up or down in Idaho County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Idaho County increased by 7.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $741 to $799.
Which jobs can afford rent in Idaho County?
Based on Idaho BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $799/mo. 13 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Idaho County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Idaho County went from $542 in FY 2020 to $799 in FY 2026, a total change of +47.4% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Idaho County?
In Idaho County, the FY 2026 FMR of $799/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 Idaho County?
For Idaho County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($799/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Idaho County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 5.8%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in Idaho County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.6% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Idaho's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $799 implies about $31,960/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Idaho counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Ada
- See where Idaho ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.