County FMR · HUD FY2026

Jefferson County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Jefferson County, OH - 21% below the US average.

$757
1-bedroom FMR
$973
2-bedroom FMR
+6.5%
YoY change
-21%
vs US avg

The verdict

Jefferson is the 16th cheapest of 88 counties in Ohio by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #976 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 6.5% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#976
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#16
cheapest of 88 in Ohio (2BR)
-13%
vs the state average
$30,280
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 (32.3%); 14 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 Jefferson County, OH. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Jefferson County, Ohio is $757 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $973/mo and a studio is $752/mo. This is 21% lower than the national average of $959 and 13% below the Ohio average of $873.

Rent increased6.5% from FY 2025 ($711), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $30,280/year.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Ohio. Population: 65,280. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-3.0%, Census ACS). That's slower than Ohio's statewide growth of +1.2% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area JEFFERSON·COUNTY·OH·OH

Jefferson County, OH: $757/mo 1BR · #976 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA OH
  • 1BR-FMR $757
  • 2BR-FMR $973
  • RANK-MID #976
  • YOY-SURGE +6.5%
  • VSUS-BELOW -21%
  • VS-ST-LOW -13% OH
  • INC-ROOM 16%
  • POP-MID 65K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Franklin County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $681–$833
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Franklin ($437 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $816 · US avg: $893
$752/mo
↑ 6.5% YoY -8% vs state -16% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $873 · US avg: $959
$757/mo
↑ 6.5% YoY -13% vs state -21% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,092 · US avg: $1,175
$973/mo
↑ 8.2% YoY -11% vs state -17% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,388 · US avg: $1,525
$1,285/mo
↑ 7.4% YoY -7% vs state -16% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,550 · US avg: $1,756
$1,482/mo
↑ 9.6% YoY -4% vs state -16% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $706
$752
+$46 (+6.5%)
1 Bedroom $711
$757
+$46 (+6.5%)
2 Bedroom $899
$973
+$74 (+8.2%)
3 Bedroom $1,197
$1,285
+$88 (+7.4%)
4 Bedroom $1,352
$1,482
+$130 (+9.6%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
15.8%
Affordable
Need $30,080/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
15.9%
Affordable
Need $30,280/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.5%
Affordable
Need $38,920/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
27.1%
Affordable
Need $51,400/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
31.2%
Burdened
Need $59,280/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%20.5%
Jefferson County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $56,983 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Ohio rent burden →

Where Jefferson sits among every US county

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

$973 higher than 31% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Above this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $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 Ohio counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Jefferson is highlighted. Nearby Ohio counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Franklin County ($1,194), Cuyahoga County ($1,058), Hamilton County ($1,051), Montgomery County ($1,009), Summit County ($985), Lucas County ($820), Jefferson County (this county) ($757).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $757/mo, most of these Ohio occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation OH Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $107,690 8.4% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $94,990 9.6% Affordable
Registered Nurses $81,250 11.2% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,640 11.7% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $77,050 11.8% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $65,380 13.9% Affordable
Electricians $63,560 14.3% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $58,870 15.4% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $58,080 15.6% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $43,510 20.9% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $37,860 24% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $35,380 25.7% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $34,710 26.2% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $30,440 29.8% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,100 32.3% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Ohio) 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 37.6% overall, from $550 to $757. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 8.8% (FY 2024).

$500$550$600$650$700$750$800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $757
Jefferson County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑6.5% $752 $757 $973
FY 2025 ↑4.9% $706 $711 $899
FY 2024 ↑8.8% $660 $678 $860
FY 2023 ↑7.8% $619 $623 $794
FY 2022 ↑0.3% $557 $578 $738
FY 2021 ↑4.7% $511 $576 $734
FY 2020 $453 $550 $696
Total change (6yr): +37.6%
Annualized: +5.5%/yr
1 BR: $550 → $757

Part of the Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH Metro Area

Jefferson County is a central county of the Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.

Jefferson County ranks #3 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Hancock County ($757), Brooke County ($757), Jefferson County (this county) ($757).

Hancock County
1 BR: $757/mo
Brooke County
1 BR: $757/mo
Jefferson County (this county)
1 BR: $757/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Jefferson County, both outside Ohio 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 OH (FY2026).

Cabell County
WV · 2 BR $973/mo
Northumberland County
PA · 2 BR $973/mo
Crawford County
PA · 2 BR $973/mo
Manitowoc County
WI · 2 BR $973/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Wabash County
IL · 20.5% of income · 2 BR $916/mo
Arenac County
MI · 20.5% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Grand Traverse County
MI · 20.5% of income · 2 BR $1,357/mo
Essex County
VT · 20.5% of income · 2 BR $1,007/mo

Nearby Counties in Ohio

Largest counties by population in Ohio

Showing the 8 largest of 87 other counties in Ohio.

Franklin County
1 BR: $1,194/mo Pop: 1,318,149
Cuyahoga County
1 BR: $1,058/mo Pop: 1,256,620
Hamilton County
1 BR: $1,051/mo Pop: 827,671
Summit County
1 BR: $985/mo Pop: 539,361
Montgomery County
1 BR: $1,009/mo Pop: 536,121
Lucas County
1 BR: $820/mo Pop: 430,014
Butler County
1 BR: $1,051/mo Pop: 388,327
Stark County
1 BR: $846/mo Pop: 374,199
View all counties in Ohio →

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 $757 per month. A 2-bedroom is $973 and a studio is $752.
How does Jefferson County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Jefferson County is 21% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $757 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 $973 ranks #976 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half 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 $30,280 ($2,523/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 6.5% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $711 to $757.
Which jobs can afford rent in Jefferson County? ▼
Based on Ohio BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $757/mo. 14 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 $550 in FY 2020 to $757 in FY 2026, a total change of +37.6% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Jefferson County? ▼
In Jefferson County, the FY 2026 FMR of $757/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 ($757/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.