County FMR · HUD FY2026

Jefferson County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Jefferson County, NY - 12% above the US average.

$1,071
1-bedroom FMR
$1,405
2-bedroom FMR
+9.6%
YoY change
+12%
vs US avg

The verdict

Jefferson is the 27th most expensive of 62 counties in New York by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #566 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 9.6% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#566
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#27
most expensive of 62 in New York (2BR)
-19%
vs the state average
$42,840
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (36.4%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Jefferson County, NY. Verify with HUD →

Jefferson County, New York carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,071 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,405/mo and a studio is $969/mo. That's 12% above the national benchmark of $959 and 19% below the New York average of $1,315.

Rent increased9.6% from FY 2025 ($977), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $42,840/year for a 1-bedroom.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in New York. Population: 117,445. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.5%, Census ACS). That's in line with New York's statewide growth of +1.3% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area JEFFERSON·COUNTY·NY·NY

Jefferson County, NY: $1,071/mo 1BR · #566 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA NY
  • 1BR-FMR $1,071
  • 2BR-FMR $1,405
  • RANK-MID #566
  • YOY-SURGE +9.6%
  • VSUS-ABOVE +12%
  • VS-ST-LOW -19% NY
  • INC-ROOM 20%
  • POP-MID 117K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Kings County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $964–$1,178
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Kings ($1,584 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,215 · US avg: $893
$969/mo
↑ 9.0% YoY -20% vs state +9% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,315 · US avg: $959
$1,071/mo
↑ 9.6% YoY -19% vs state +12% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,579 · US avg: $1,175
$1,405/mo
↑ 9.6% YoY -11% vs state +20% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,976 · US avg: $1,525
$1,907/mo
↑ 9.6% YoY -3% vs state +25% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,193 · US avg: $1,756
$2,340/mo
↑ 9.7% YoY +7% vs state +33% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $889
$969
+$80 (+9.0%)
1 Bedroom $977
$1,071
+$94 (+9.6%)
2 Bedroom $1,282
$1,405
+$123 (+9.6%)
3 Bedroom $1,740
$1,907
+$167 (+9.6%)
4 Bedroom $2,133
$2,340
+$207 (+9.7%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
17.9%
Affordable
Need $38,760/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
19.8%
Affordable
Need $42,840/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
25.9%
Affordable
Need $56,200/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
35.2%
Burdened
Need $76,280/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
43.2%
Burdened
Need $93,600/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%25.9%
Jefferson County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $64,978 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View New York rent burden →

Where Jefferson sits among every US county

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

$1,405 Top 18% higher than 82% 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 Jefferson compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other New York counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Jefferson is highlighted. Nearby New York counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Kings County ($2,655), Queens County ($2,655), New York County ($2,655), Bronx County ($2,655), Suffolk County ($2,379), Nassau County ($2,379), Jefferson County (this county) ($1,071).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,071/mo compares to New York salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation NY Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $161,260 8% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $129,990 9.9% Affordable
Registered Nurses $105,600 12.2% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $101,780 12.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $93,050 13.8% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $82,480 15.6% Affordable
Electricians $77,460 16.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $66,390 19.4% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,520 21.2% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $47,840 26.9% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $40,840 31.5% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $39,920 32.2% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $37,020 34.7% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $36,600 35.1% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $35,270 36.4% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (New York) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Jefferson (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 28.4% overall, from $834 to $1,071. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +13.2% in FY 2022, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$700$800$900$1,000$1,100 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,071
Jefferson County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑9.6% $969 $1,071 $1,405
FY 2025 ↓5.6% $889 $977 $1,282
FY 2024 ↑11.5% $922 $1,035 $1,360
FY 2023 ↑3.2% $816 $928 $1,221
FY 2022 ↑13.2% $786 $899 $1,183
FY 2021 ↓4.8% $691 $794 $1,047
FY 2020 $716 $834 $1,099
Total change (6yr): +28.4%
Annualized: +4.3%/yr
1 BR: $834 → $1,071

Part of the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY Metro Area

Jefferson County is a central county of the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Jefferson County, both outside New York 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 NY (FY2026).

Tillamook County
OR · 2 BR $1,405/mo
Centre County
PA · 2 BR $1,406/mo
Liberty County
GA · 2 BR $1,406/mo
Jefferson County
MT · 2 BR $1,404/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Lee County
VA · 25.9% of income · 2 BR $914/mo
Pike County
GA · 25.9% of income · 2 BR $1,820/mo
Curry County
OR · 25.9% of income · 2 BR $1,400/mo
Clear Creek County
CO · 25.9% of income · 2 BR $2,089/mo

Nearby Counties in New York

Largest counties by population in New York

Showing the 8 largest of 61 other counties in New York.

Kings County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 2,679,620
Queens County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 2,360,826
New York County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 1,645,867
Suffolk County
1 BR: $2,379/mo Pop: 1,524,486
Bronx County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 1,443,229
Nassau County
1 BR: $2,379/mo Pop: 1,389,160
Westchester County
1 BR: $2,655/mo Pop: 997,904
Erie County
1 BR: $1,139/mo Pop: 951,232
View all counties in New York →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Jefferson County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Jefferson County is $1,071 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,405 and a studio is $969.
How does Jefferson County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Jefferson County is 12% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,071 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Jefferson County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Jefferson County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,405 ranks #566 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Jefferson County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $42,840 ($3,570/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Jefferson County.
Is rent going up or down in Jefferson County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Jefferson County increased by 9.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $977 to $1,071.
Which jobs can afford rent in Jefferson County? ▼
Based on New York BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,071/mo. 10 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Jefferson County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Jefferson County went from $834 in FY 2020 to $1,071 in FY 2026, a total change of +28.4% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Jefferson County? ▼
In Jefferson County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,071/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 Jefferson County? ▼
For Jefferson County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,071/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.