County FMR · HUD FY2026

Kiowa County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Kiowa County, CO - 9% below the US average.

$873
1-bedroom FMR
$1,146
2-bedroom FMR
+3.9%
YoY change
-9%
vs US avg

The verdict

Kiowa is the 25th cheapest of 64 counties in Colorado by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,164 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#1,164
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#25
cheapest of 64 in Colorado (2BR)
-25%
vs the state average
$34,920
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.8%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (33.4%); 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 Kiowa County, CO. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Kiowa County, Colorado at $873 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,146/mo and a studio is $868/mo. This is 9% lower than the national average of $959 and 25% below the Colorado average of $1,161.

Rent increased3.9% from FY 2025 ($840), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $34,920/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 31.0% of the 174 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.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Colorado. Population: 1,347.

FMR filing desk

Area KIOWA·COUNTY·CO·CO

Kiowa County, CO: $873/mo 1BR · #1164 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA CO
  • 1BR-FMR $873
  • 2BR-FMR $1,146
  • RANK-MID #1,164
  • YOY-UP +3.9%
  • VSUS-BELOW -9%
  • VS-ST-LOW -25% CO
  • INC-ROOM 19%
  • POP-SMALL 1K
  • PHOTO-NEAR El Paso County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $786–$960
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: El Paso ($591 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,083 · US avg: $893
$868/mo
↑ 4.1% YoY -20% vs state -3% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,161 · US avg: $959
$873/mo
↑ 3.9% YoY -25% vs state -9% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,429 · US avg: $1,175
$1,146/mo
↑ 4.0% YoY -20% vs state -2% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,861 · US avg: $1,525
$1,463/mo
↑ 3.9% YoY -21% vs state -4% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,178 · US avg: $1,756
$1,797/mo
↑ 1.9% YoY -17% vs state +2% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $834
$868
+$34 (+4.1%)
1 Bedroom $840
$873
+$33 (+3.9%)
2 Bedroom $1,102
$1,146
+$44 (+4.0%)
3 Bedroom $1,408
$1,463
+$55 (+3.9%)
4 Bedroom $1,763
$1,797
+$34 (+1.9%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
18.5%
Affordable
Need $34,720/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
18.6%
Affordable
Need $34,920/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
24.4%
Affordable
Need $45,840/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
31.1%
Burdened
Need $58,520/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
38.2%
Burdened
Need $71,880/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%24.4%
Kiowa County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $56,389 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Colorado rent burden →

Where Kiowa sits among every US county

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

$1,146 Top 37% higher than 63% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Kiowa compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Colorado counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Kiowa is highlighted. Nearby Colorado counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Denver County ($1,754), Arapahoe County ($1,754), Jefferson County ($1,754), Adams County ($1,754), Douglas County ($1,754), El Paso County ($1,464), Kiowa County (this county) ($873).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $873/mo compares to Colorado salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation CO Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $134,540 7.8% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $130,340 8% Affordable
Registered Nurses $96,520 10.9% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $96,100 10.9% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $90,030 11.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $73,380 14.3% Affordable
Electricians $62,090 16.9% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $61,550 17% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,260 17.4% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $48,070 21.8% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $46,020 22.8% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $37,270 28.1% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $36,960 28.3% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $35,440 29.6% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $31,390 33.4% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Colorado) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Kiowa (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 26.7% overall, from $689 to $873. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 15.3% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$600$700$800$900 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $873
Kiowa County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑3.9% $868 $873 $1,146
FY 2025 ↓0.4% $834 $840 $1,102
FY 2024 ↑15.3% $837 $843 $1,107
FY 2023 ↑6.6% $727 $731 $933
FY 2022 ↑10.5% $681 $686 $857
FY 2021 ↓9.9% $617 $621 $770
FY 2020 $685 $689 $855
Total change (6yr): +26.7%
Annualized: +4.0%/yr
1 BR: $689 → $873

Where Kiowa County Ranks in Colorado

Kiowa 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 #25 of 64 counties in Colorado. Nearest by rank: Kit Carson County ($1,093), Rio Grande County ($1,094), Logan County ($1,101), Custer County ($1,112), Delta County ($1,114), Washington County ($1,114), Dolores County ($1,115), Hinsdale County ($1,145), Kiowa County (this county) ($1,146), Las Animas County ($1,155), Morgan County ($1,160), Moffat County ($1,164), Montrose County ($1,168), Montezuma County ($1,180), San Juan County ($1,227), Fremont County ($1,244), Mesa County ($1,249).

Kit Carson County
2 BR: $1,093/mo
Rio Grande County
2 BR: $1,094/mo
Logan County
2 BR: $1,101/mo
Custer County
2 BR: $1,112/mo
Delta County
2 BR: $1,114/mo
Washington County
2 BR: $1,114/mo
Dolores County
2 BR: $1,115/mo
Hinsdale County
2 BR: $1,145/mo
Kiowa County (this county)
2 BR: $1,146/mo
Las Animas County
2 BR: $1,155/mo
Morgan County
2 BR: $1,160/mo
Moffat County
2 BR: $1,164/mo
Montrose County
2 BR: $1,168/mo
Montezuma County
2 BR: $1,180/mo
San Juan County
2 BR: $1,227/mo
Fremont County
2 BR: $1,244/mo
Mesa County
2 BR: $1,249/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Kiowa County, both outside Colorado 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 CO (FY2026).

Pulaski County
AR · 2 BR $1,147/mo
Marathon County
WI · 2 BR $1,147/mo
Faulkner County
AR · 2 BR $1,147/mo
Saline County
AR · 2 BR $1,147/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Marion County
MS · 24.4% of income · 2 BR $860/mo
Chambers County
AL · 24.4% of income · 2 BR $1,002/mo
Pendleton County
KY · 24.4% of income · 2 BR $1,353/mo
Lawrence County
KY · 24.4% of income · 2 BR $926/mo

Nearby Counties in Colorado

Largest counties by population in Colorado

Showing the 8 largest of 63 other counties in Colorado.

El Paso County
1 BR: $1,464/mo Pop: 730,323
Denver County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 710,800
Arapahoe County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 654,453
Jefferson County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 580,519
Adams County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 520,149
Douglas County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 360,206
Larimer County
1 BR: $1,537/mo Pop: 359,363
Weld County
1 BR: $1,238/mo Pop: 331,466
View all counties in Colorado →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Kiowa County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Kiowa County is $873 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,146 and a studio is $868.
How does Kiowa County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Kiowa County is 9% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $873 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Kiowa County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Kiowa County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,146 ranks #1,164 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Kiowa County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $34,920 ($2,910/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Kiowa County.
Is rent going up or down in Kiowa County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Kiowa County increased by 3.9% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $840 to $873.
Which jobs can afford rent in Kiowa County? ▼
Based on Colorado BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $873/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Kiowa County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Kiowa County went from $689 in FY 2020 to $873 in FY 2026, a total change of +26.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Kiowa County? ▼
In Kiowa County, the FY 2026 FMR of $873/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 Kiowa County? ▼
For Kiowa County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($873/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.