County FMR · HUD FY2026

Kennebec County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Kennebec County, ME - 14% above the US average.

$1,090
1-bedroom FMR
$1,416
2-bedroom FMR
+21.0%
YoY change
+14%
vs US avg

The verdict

Kennebec is the 8th cheapest of 16 counties in Maine by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 21.0% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#8
cheapest of 16 in Maine (2BR)
-5%
vs the state average
$43,600
income to afford it (30% rule)
+21.0%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (38.1%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Kennebec County, ME. Verify with HUD →

Kennebec County, Maine carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,090 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,416/mo and a studio is $1,082/mo. That's 14% above the national benchmark of $959 and 5% below the Maine average of $1,153.

Rent increased21.0% from FY 2025 ($901), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $43,600/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Maine. Population: 2,358. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.3%, Census ACS). That's in line with Maine's statewide growth of +3.3% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Kennebec County

The Kennebec County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Maine'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 14% above the US average of $959 and 5% lower than the Maine state average of $1,153. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$901 in FY 2025 to $1,090 in FY 2026 - a change of +21.0%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,090, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $43,600 per year (about $3,633/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,416 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 2,358 and a county median household income of $65,062, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,080 · US avg: $893
$1,082/mo
↑ 20.9% YoY +0% vs state +21% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,153 · US avg: $959
$1,090/mo
↑ 21.0% YoY -5% vs state +14% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,448 · US avg: $1,175
$1,416/mo
↑ 22.1% YoY -2% vs state +21% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,917 · US avg: $1,525
$1,819/mo
↑ 25.1% YoY -5% vs state +19% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,133 · US avg: $1,756
$2,158/mo
↑ 24.1% YoY +1% vs state +23% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $895
$1,082
+$187 (+20.9%)
1 Bedroom $901
$1,090
+$189 (+21.0%)
2 Bedroom $1,160
$1,416
+$256 (+22.1%)
3 Bedroom $1,454
$1,819
+$365 (+25.1%)
4 Bedroom $1,739
$2,158
+$419 (+24.1%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$43,600
$3,633/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$56,640
$4,720/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
20%
Affordable
Need $43,280/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
20.1%
Affordable
Need $43,600/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
26.1%
Affordable
Need $56,640/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
33.5%
Burdened
Need $72,760/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
39.8%
Burdened
Need $86,320/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.

Kennebec County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%26.1%
Kennebec County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $65,062 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Maine rent burden →

Where Kennebec sits among every US county

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

$1,416 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 Kennebec compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Maine counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Kennebec is highlighted. Nearby Maine counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: York County ($1,412), Cumberland County ($1,397), Knox County ($1,270), Androscoggin County ($1,218), Waldo County ($1,163), Kennebec County (this county) ($1,090), Somerset County ($1,083).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,090/mo compares to Maine salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation ME Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $113,800 11.5% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $96,740 13.5% Affordable
Registered Nurses $82,860 15.8% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,680 16.8% Affordable
Electricians $67,820 19.3% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $65,330 20% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $62,300 21% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $58,510 22.4% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $51,930 25.2% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $45,240 28.9% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $43,870 29.8% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $40,950 31.9% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $38,560 33.9% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $36,460 35.9% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $34,360 38.1% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Maine) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Kennebec (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 67.7% overall, from $650 to $1,090. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +21.0% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$700$800$900$1,000$1,100$1,200 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,090
Kennebec County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑21.0% $1,082 $1,090 $1,416
FY 2025 ↑4.8% $895 $901 $1,160
FY 2024 ↑13.3% $857 $860 $1,104
FY 2023 ↑7.8% $754 $759 $971
FY 2022 ↑4.0% $693 $704 $888
FY 2021 ↑4.2% $676 $677 $842
FY 2020 $642 $650 $799
Total change (6yr): +67.7%
Annualized: +9.0%/yr
1 BR: $650 → $1,090

Part of the Augusta-Waterville, ME Micro Area

Kennebec County is a central county of the Augusta-Waterville, ME micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in Maine

Largest counties by population in Maine

Androscoggin County
1 BR: $1,218/mo Pop: 24,294
Waldo County
1 BR: $1,163/mo Pop: 6,985
York County
1 BR: $1,412/mo Pop: 2,695
Somerset County
1 BR: $1,083/mo Pop: 2,570
Knox County
1 BR: $1,270/mo Pop: 1,502
Cumberland County
1 BR: $1,397/mo Pop: 1,178
Washington County
1 BR: $954/mo Pop: 1,077
Lincoln County
1 BR: $1,280/mo Pop: 829
View all counties in Maine →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Kennebec County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Kennebec County is $1,090 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,416 and a studio is $1,082.
How does Kennebec County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Kennebec County is 14% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,090 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Kennebec County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $43,600 ($3,633/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Kennebec County.
Is rent going up or down in Kennebec County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Kennebec County increased by 21.0% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $901 to $1,090.
Which jobs can afford rent in Kennebec County? ▼
Based on Maine BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,090/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Kennebec County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Kennebec County went from $650 in FY 2020 to $1,090 in FY 2026, a total change of +67.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Kennebec County? ▼
In Kennebec County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,090/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 Kennebec County? ▼
For Kennebec County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,090/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Kennebec'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 $1,090 implies about $43,600/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 Kennebec 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.

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.