County FMR · HUD FY2026

Knox County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Knox County, ME - 32% above the US average.

$1,270
1-bedroom FMR
$1,526
2-bedroom FMR
+27.4%
YoY change
+32%
vs US avg

The verdict

Knox is the 5th most expensive of 16 counties in Maine by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #440 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 27.4% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#440
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#5
most expensive of 16 in Maine (2BR)
+10%
vs the state average
$50,800
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (44.4%).

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

Knox County, Maine carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,270 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,526/mo and a studio is $1,223/mo. That's 32% above the national benchmark of $959 and 10% above the Maine average of $1,153.

Rent increased27.4% from FY 2025 ($997), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $50,800/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.

Observed renter burden: 45.6% of the 3,859 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 Maine. Population: 1,502. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.6%, Census ACS). That's in line with Maine's statewide growth of +3.3% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area KNOX·COUNTY·ME·ME

Knox County, ME: $1,270/mo 1BR · #440 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA ME
  • 1BR-FMR $1,270
  • 2BR-FMR $1,526
  • RANK-MID #440
  • YOY-SURGE +27.4%
  • VSUS-HIGH +32%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +10% ME
  • INC-MID 21%
  • POP-SMALL 2K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Androscoggin Count
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,143–$1,397
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Androscoggin ($52 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,080 · US avg: $893
$1,223/mo
↑ 51.4% YoY +13% vs state +37% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,153 · US avg: $959
$1,270/mo
↑ 27.4% YoY +10% vs state +32% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,448 · US avg: $1,175
$1,526/mo
↑ 29.5% YoY +5% vs state +30% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,917 · US avg: $1,525
$1,928/mo
↑ 31.1% YoY +1% vs state +26% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,133 · US avg: $1,756
$2,085/mo
↑ 16.0% YoY -2% vs state +19% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $808
$1,223
+$415 (+51.4%)
1 Bedroom $997
$1,270
+$273 (+27.4%)
2 Bedroom $1,178
$1,526
+$348 (+29.5%)
3 Bedroom $1,471
$1,928
+$457 (+31.1%)
4 Bedroom $1,798
$2,085
+$287 (+16.0%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
20.4%
Affordable
Need $48,920/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
21.2%
Affordable
Need $50,800/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
25.5%
Affordable
Need $61,040/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
32.2%
Burdened
Need $77,120/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
34.8%
Burdened
Need $83,400/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%25.5%
Knox County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $71,903 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Maine rent burden →

Where Knox sits among every US county

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

$1,526 Top 14% higher than 86% 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 Knox compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Maine counties

1BR FMR / mo

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

Against a high local FMR of $1,270/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Maine BLS wages?

Occupation ME Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $113,800 13.4% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $96,740 15.8% Affordable
Registered Nurses $82,860 18.4% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,680 19.6% Affordable
Electricians $67,820 22.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $65,330 23.3% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $62,300 24.5% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $58,510 26% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $51,930 29.3% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $45,240 33.7% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $43,870 34.7% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $40,950 37.2% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $38,560 39.5% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $36,460 41.8% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $34,360 44.4% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Maine) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Knox (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 79.9% overall, from $706 to $1,270. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 27.4% (FY 2026), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$600$800$1,000$1,200$1,400 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,270
Knox County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑27.4% $1,223 $1,270 $1,526
FY 2025 ↑7.3% $808 $997 $1,178
FY 2024 ↑1.2% $890 $929 $1,120
FY 2023 ↑10.7% $738 $918 $1,103
FY 2022 ↑1.7% $818 $829 $1,005
FY 2021 ↑15.4% $771 $815 $967
FY 2020 $676 $706 $842
Total change (6yr): +79.9%
Annualized: +10.3%/yr
1 BR: $706 → $1,270

Where Knox County Ranks in Maine

Knox 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 #12 of 16 counties in Maine. Nearest by rank: Kennebec County ($1,416), Piscataquis County ($1,419), Waldo County ($1,438), Hancock County ($1,501), Knox County (this county) ($1,526), Sagadahoc County ($1,577), Androscoggin County ($1,586), York County ($1,716), Cumberland County ($1,833).

Kennebec County
2 BR: $1,416/mo
Piscataquis County
2 BR: $1,419/mo
Waldo County
2 BR: $1,438/mo
Hancock County
2 BR: $1,501/mo
Knox County (this county)
2 BR: $1,526/mo
Sagadahoc County
2 BR: $1,577/mo
Androscoggin County
2 BR: $1,586/mo
York County
2 BR: $1,716/mo
Cumberland County
2 BR: $1,833/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Knox County, both outside Maine 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 ME (FY2026).

Lancaster County
PA · 2 BR $1,526/mo
Ouray County
CO · 2 BR $1,526/mo
Bristol County
MA · 2 BR $1,527/mo
Monroe County
PA · 2 BR $1,529/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Tulare County
CA · 25.5% of income · 2 BR $1,474/mo
Corson County
SD · 25.5% of income · 2 BR $929/mo
El Dorado County
CA · 25.5% of income · 2 BR $2,255/mo
Gillespie County
TX · 25.5% of income · 2 BR $1,438/mo

Nearby Counties in Maine

Largest counties by population in Maine

Showing the 8 largest of 15 other counties 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
Kennebec County
1 BR: $1,090/mo Pop: 2,358
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 Knox County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Knox County is $1,270 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,526 and a studio is $1,223.
How does Knox County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Knox County is 32% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,270 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Knox County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Knox County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,526 ranks #440 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 Knox County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $50,800 ($4,233/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Knox County.
Is rent going up or down in Knox County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Knox County increased by 27.4% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $997 to $1,270.
Which jobs can afford rent in Knox 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 $1,270/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Knox County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Knox County went from $706 in FY 2020 to $1,270 in FY 2026, a total change of +79.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Knox County? ▼
In Knox County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,270/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 Knox County? ▼
For Knox County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,270/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.