County FMR · HUD FY2026

Jefferson County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Jefferson County, PA - 20% below the US average.

$768
1-bedroom FMR
$973
2-bedroom FMR
+7.4%
YoY change
-20%
vs US avg

The verdict

Jefferson is the 8th cheapest of 67 counties in Pennsylvania by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #976 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 7.4% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#976
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#8
cheapest of 67 in Pennsylvania (2BR)
-23%
vs the state average
$30,720
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (32.3%).

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

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania is $768 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 $671/mo. This is 20% lower than the national average of $959 and 23% below the Pennsylvania average of $996.

Rent increased7.4% from FY 2025 ($715), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $30,720/year.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Pennsylvania. Population: 44,326. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.0%, Census ACS). That's slower than Pennsylvania's statewide growth of +1.5% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area JEFFERSON·COUNTY·PA·PA

Jefferson County, PA: $768/mo 1BR · #976 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA PA
  • 1BR-FMR $768
  • 2BR-FMR $973
  • RANK-MID #976
  • YOY-SURGE +7.4%
  • VSUS-BELOW -20%
  • VS-ST-LOW -23% PA
  • INC-ROOM 16%
  • POP-SMALL 44K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Philadelphia Count
  • VOUCH-90-110 $691–$845
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Philadelphia ($752 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $900 · US avg: $893
$671/mo
↑ 7.7% YoY -25% vs state -25% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $996 · US avg: $959
$768/mo
↑ 7.4% YoY -23% vs state -20% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,225 · US avg: $1,175
$973/mo
↑ 7.0% YoY -21% vs state -17% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,570 · US avg: $1,525
$1,197/mo
↑ 7.0% YoY -24% vs state -22% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,744 · US avg: $1,756
$1,379/mo
↑ 10.2% YoY -21% vs state -21% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $623
$671
+$48 (+7.7%)
1 Bedroom $715
$768
+$53 (+7.4%)
2 Bedroom $909
$973
+$64 (+7.0%)
3 Bedroom $1,119
$1,197
+$78 (+7.0%)
4 Bedroom $1,251
$1,379
+$128 (+10.2%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
14.2%
Affordable
Need $26,840/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
16.2%
Affordable
Need $30,720/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.5%
Affordable
Need $38,920/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
25.2%
Affordable
Need $47,880/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
29.1%
Affordable
Need $55,160/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: $56,898 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Jefferson is highlighted. Nearby Pennsylvania counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Philadelphia County ($1,520), Montgomery County ($1,520), Bucks County ($1,520), Delaware County ($1,520), Lancaster County ($1,220), Allegheny County ($1,077), Jefferson County (this county) ($768).

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 $768/mo, most of these Pennsylvania occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation PA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $123,740 7.4% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $100,400 9.2% Affordable
Registered Nurses $87,610 10.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $86,350 10.7% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,330 11.9% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $74,160 12.4% Affordable
Electricians $65,400 14.1% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $60,950 15.1% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $58,540 15.7% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $43,080 21.4% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $37,560 24.5% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $35,670 25.8% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $30,550 30.2% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $30,410 30.3% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,490 32.3% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Pennsylvania) 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 36.2% overall, from $564 to $768. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 8.8% (FY 2025).

$550$600$650$700$750$800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $768
Jefferson County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑7.4% $671 $768 $973
FY 2025 ↑8.8% $623 $715 $909
FY 2024 ↑2.8% $573 $657 $845
FY 2023 ↑6.7% $553 $639 $827
FY 2022 ↑5.5% $558 $599 $765
FY 2021 ↑0.7% $565 $568 $724
FY 2020 $560 $564 $714
Total change (6yr): +36.2%
Annualized: +5.3%/yr
1 BR: $564 → $768

Where Jefferson County Ranks in Pennsylvania

Jefferson 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 #8 of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. Nearest by rank: Bedford County ($973), Clarion County ($973), Crawford County ($973), Elk County ($973), Forest County ($973), Fulton County ($973), Huntingdon County ($973), Jefferson County (this county) ($973), Juniata County ($973), McKean County ($973), Mifflin County ($973), Northumberland County ($973), Potter County ($973), Somerset County ($973), Sullivan County ($973), Venango County ($973).

Bedford County
2 BR: $973/mo
Clarion County
2 BR: $973/mo
Crawford County
2 BR: $973/mo
Elk County
2 BR: $973/mo
Forest County
2 BR: $973/mo
Fulton County
2 BR: $973/mo
Huntingdon County
2 BR: $973/mo
Jefferson County (this county)
2 BR: $973/mo
Juniata County
2 BR: $973/mo
McKean County
2 BR: $973/mo
Mifflin County
2 BR: $973/mo
Northumberland County
2 BR: $973/mo
Potter County
2 BR: $973/mo
Somerset County
2 BR: $973/mo
Sullivan County
2 BR: $973/mo
Venango County
2 BR: $973/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

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

Mahoning County
OH · 2 BR $973/mo
Trumbull County
OH · 2 BR $973/mo
Richland County
OH · 2 BR $973/mo
Columbiana County
OH · 2 BR $973/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Williamson County
TX · 20.5% of income · 2 BR $1,852/mo
Jerome County
ID · 20.5% of income · 2 BR $1,186/mo
Cheboygan County
MI · 20.5% of income · 2 BR $1,054/mo
Washington County
CO · 20.5% of income · 2 BR $1,114/mo

Nearby Counties in Pennsylvania

Largest counties by population in Pennsylvania

Showing the 8 largest of 66 other counties in Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 1,593,208
Allegheny County
1 BR: $1,077/mo Pop: 1,245,310
Montgomery County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 856,399
Bucks County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 645,163
Delaware County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 575,312
Lancaster County
1 BR: $1,220/mo Pop: 553,202
Chester County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 536,474
York County
1 BR: $1,060/mo Pop: 457,051
View all counties in Pennsylvania →

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 $768 per month. A 2-bedroom is $973 and a studio is $671.
How does Jefferson County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Jefferson County is 20% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $768 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 $30,720 ($2,560/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 7.4% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $715 to $768.
Which jobs can afford rent in Jefferson County? ▼
Based on Pennsylvania BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $768/mo. 12 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 $564 in FY 2020 to $768 in FY 2026, a total change of +36.2% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Jefferson County? ▼
In Jefferson County, the FY 2026 FMR of $768/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 ($768/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.