County FMR · HUD FY2026
Josephine County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Josephine County, OR - 8% above the US average.
- $1,039
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,363
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +3.2%
- YoY change
- +8%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Josephine is the 17th cheapest of 36 counties in Oregon by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #17
- cheapest of 36 in Oregon (2BR)
- -9%
- vs the state average
- $41,560
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +3.2%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (36.2%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Josephine County, OR. Verify with HUD →
Josephine County, Oregon carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,039 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,363/mo and a studio is $940/mo. That's 8% above the national benchmark of $959 and 9% below the Oregon average of $1,143.
Rent increased3.2% from FY 2025 ($1,007), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $41,560/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Oregon. Population: 87,994. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.0%, Census ACS). That's in line with Oregon's statewide growth of +3.8% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Josephine County
The Josephine County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Oregon's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 8% above the US average of $959 and 9% lower than the Oregon state average of $1,143. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$1,007 in FY 2025 to $1,039 in FY 2026 - a change of +3.2%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,039, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $41,560 per year (about $3,463/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,363 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 87,994 and a county median household income of $59,097, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $906 | $940 | +$34 (+3.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,007 | $1,039 | +$32 (+3.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,321 | $1,363 | +$42 (+3.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,851 | $1,896 | +$45 (+2.4%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,915 | $2,014 | +$99 (+5.2%) |
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 Josephine 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.
Josephine County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Josephine sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,363 Top 20% higher than 80% 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 Josephine compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Oregon counties
- Multnomah
Multnomah County
$1,677 1BR FMR / mo
- Washington
Washington County
$1,677 1BR FMR / mo
- Clackamas
Clackamas County
$1,677 1BR FMR / mo
- Lane
Lane County
$1,286 1BR FMR / mo
- Jackson
Jackson County
$1,229 1BR FMR / mo
- Marion
Marion County
$1,201 1BR FMR / mo
- Josephine
Josephine County
$1,039 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Josephine is highlighted. Nearby Oregon counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Multnomah County ($1,677), Washington County ($1,677), Clackamas County ($1,677), Lane County ($1,286), Jackson County ($1,229), Marion County ($1,201), Josephine County (this county) ($1,039).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,039/mo compares to Oregon salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | OR Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $135,260 | 9.2% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $123,990 | 10.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $98,580 | 12.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $97,320 | 12.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $88,140 | 14.1% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $81,130 | 15.4% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $75,800 | 16.4% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $63,970 | 19.5% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $61,180 | 20.4% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $51,210 | 24.3% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,280 | 26.9% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,550 | 33.2% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,540 | 34.1% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,140 | 34.5% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $34,430 | 36.2% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Josephine County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Josephine (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 28.0% overall, from $812 to $1,039. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.4% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑3.2% | $940 | $1,039 | $1,363 |
| FY 2025 ↓1.7% | $906 | $1,007 | $1,321 |
| FY 2024 ↑15.4% | $912 | $1,024 | $1,346 |
| FY 2023 ↑4.6% | $781 | $887 | $1,167 |
| FY 2022 ↑1.1% | $795 | $848 | $1,116 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.3% | $819 | $839 | $1,106 |
| FY 2020 | $807 | $812 | $1,070 |
Part of the Grants Pass, OR Metro Area
Josephine County is a central county of the Grants Pass, OR metropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Oregon
Largest counties by population in Oregon
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Josephine County? ▼
How does Josephine County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Josephine County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Josephine County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Josephine County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Josephine County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Josephine County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Josephine County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Josephine'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 $1,039 implies about $41,560/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 Josephine 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.