County FMR · HUD FY2026
Iron County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Iron County, UT - 7% below the US average.
- $888
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,120
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -0.8%
- YoY change
- -7%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Iron is the 9th cheapest of 29 counties in Utah by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,227 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #1,227
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #9
- cheapest of 29 in Utah (2BR)
- -18%
- vs the state average
- $35,520
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (37.2%); nearby Utah 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 Iron County, UT. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Iron County, Utah is $888 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,120/mo and a studio is $819/mo. This is 7% lower than the national average of $959 and 18% below the Utah average of $1,082.
Rent decreased0.8% from FY 2025 ($895), roughly tracking inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $35,520/year for a 1-bedroom.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Utah. Population: 58,068. Population grew 21.2% 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 Utah's statewide growth of +9.4% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Iron 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, Iron County's 2-bedroom of $1,120 ranks #1,227 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.
Iron County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (7% below the US average of $959), while sitting 18% below the Utah average of $1,082. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$895 in FY 2025 to $888 in FY 2026, a change of -0.8%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $888, the 30% rule points to $35,520/year (about $2,960/month) versus this county's median household income of $65,527. A 2-bedroom at $1,120 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $782 | $819 | +$37 (+4.7%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $895 | $888 | $-7 (-0.8%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,098 | $1,120 | +$22 (+2.0%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,539 | $1,558 | +$19 (+1.2%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,844 | $1,879 | +$35 (+1.9%) |
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 Iron 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 Iron sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,120 Top 39% higher than 61% 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 Iron compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Utah counties
- Salt Lake
Salt Lake County
$1,456 1BR FMR / mo
- Davis
Davis County
$1,281 1BR FMR / mo
- Weber
Weber County
$1,281 1BR FMR / mo
- Utah
Utah County
$1,265 1BR FMR / mo
- Washington
Washington County
$1,218 1BR FMR / mo
- Cache
Cache County
$946 1BR FMR / mo
- Iron
Iron County
$888 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Iron is highlighted. Nearby Utah counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Salt Lake County ($1,456), Davis County ($1,281), Weber County ($1,281), Utah County ($1,265), Washington County ($1,218), Cache County ($946), Iron County (this county) ($888).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $888/mo compares to Utah salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | UT Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $127,390 | 8.4% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $91,230 | 11.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $82,270 | 13% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $77,210 | 13.8% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $75,100 | 14.2% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $61,430 | 17.3% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,710 | 17.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,580 | 17.9% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $55,630 | 19.2% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $46,760 | 22.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $40,150 | 26.5% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $34,410 | 31% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $34,300 | 31.1% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $30,390 | 35.1% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,670 | 37.2% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Iron County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Iron (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 43.9% overall, from $617 to $888. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +17.7% in FY 2022, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓0.8% | $819 | $888 | $1,120 |
| FY 2025 ↑0.4% | $782 | $895 | $1,098 |
| FY 2024 ↑10.4% | $740 | $891 | $1,085 |
| FY 2023 ↑6.6% | $657 | $807 | $982 |
| FY 2022 ↑17.7% | $615 | $757 | $926 |
| FY 2021 ↑4.2% | $484 | $643 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $465 | $617 | $714 |
Part of the Cedar City, UT Micro Area
Iron County is a central county of the Cedar City, UT micropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Utah
Largest counties by population in Utah
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Iron County? ▼
How does Iron County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Iron County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Iron County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Iron County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Iron County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Iron County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Iron County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Iron County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Iron'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 $888 implies about $35,520/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 Iron 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.