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; nationally it ranks #629 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #629
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #17
- cheapest of 36 in Oregon (2BR)
- -9%
- vs the state average
- $41,560
- income to afford it (30% rule)
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. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $41,560/year for a 1-bedroom.
Observed renter burden: 54.8% of the 10,287 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 2.7%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 7.1% over the past 12 months, well above the national norm, a headwind for household budgets that can also soften local rent growth.
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.
FMR filing desk
Area JOSEPHINE·COUNTY·OR·OR
Josephine County, OR: $1,039/mo 1BR · #629 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA OR
- 1BR-FMR $1,039
- 2BR-FMR $1,363
- RANK-MID #629
- YOY-UP +3.2%
- VSUS-ABOVE +8%
- VS-ST-LOW -9% OR
- INC-MID 21%
- POP-MID 88K
- PHOTO-NEAR Multnomah County
- VOUCH-90-110 $935–$1,143
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Multnomah ($638 1BR gap)
Read with: How Fair Market Rent works
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%) |
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.
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.
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Josephine County, both outside Oregon 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 OR (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside OR).
Nearby Counties in Oregon
Largest counties by population in Oregon
Showing the 8 largest of 35 other counties in Oregon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Josephine County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Josephine County is $1,039 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,363 and a studio is $940.
How does Josephine County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Josephine County is 8% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,039 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Josephine County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Josephine County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,363 ranks #629 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 Josephine County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $41,560 ($3,463/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Josephine County.
Is rent going up or down in Josephine County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Josephine County increased by 3.2% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,007 to $1,039.
Which jobs can afford rent in Josephine County?
Based on Oregon BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,039/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Josephine County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Josephine County went from $812 in FY 2020 to $1,039 in FY 2026, a total change of +28.0% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Josephine County?
In Josephine County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,039/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 Josephine County?
For Josephine County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,039/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Josephine County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 2.7%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
What is the unemployment rate in Josephine County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 7.1% over the past 12 months, well above the national norm, a headwind for household budgets that can also soften local rent growth.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Josephine's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single 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
- Oregon counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Multnomah
- See where Josephine ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.