County FMR · HUD FY2026

Kootenai County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Kootenai County, ID - 36% above the US average.

$1,302
1-bedroom FMR
$1,547
2-bedroom FMR
+6.2%
YoY change
+36%
vs US avg

The verdict

Kootenai is the 6th most expensive of 44 counties in Idaho by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #440 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 6.2% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#440
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#6
most expensive of 44 in Idaho (2BR)
+37%
vs the state average
$52,080
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (14.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (54.9%); nearby Idaho counties range as much as 54% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Kootenai County, ID. Verify with HUD →

Kootenai County, Idaho carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,302 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,547/mo and a studio is $1,103/mo. That's 36% above the national benchmark of $959 and 37% above the Idaho average of $950.

Rent increased6.2% from FY 2025 ($1,226), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $52,080/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.

Observed renter burden: 48.1% of the 19,203 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 Idaho. Population: 173,396. Population grew 15.7% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Idaho's statewide growth of +12.2% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area KOOTENAI·COUNTY·ID·ID

Kootenai County, ID: $1,302/mo 1BR · #440 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA ID
  • 1BR-FMR $1,302
  • 2BR-FMR $1,547
  • RANK-MID #440
  • YOY-SURGE +6.2%
  • VSUS-HIGH +36%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +37% ID
  • INC-MID 20%
  • POP-MID 173K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Ada County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,172–$1,432
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Ada ($79 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $898 · US avg: $893
$1,103/mo
↑ 10.2% YoY +23% vs state +24% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $950 · US avg: $959
$1,302/mo
↑ 6.2% YoY +37% vs state +36% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,173 · US avg: $1,175
$1,547/mo
↑ 6.0% YoY +32% vs state +32% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,619 · US avg: $1,525
$2,152/mo
↑ 5.2% YoY +33% vs state +41% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,949 · US avg: $1,756
$2,595/mo
↑ 5.8% YoY +33% vs state +48% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,001
$1,103
+$102 (+10.2%)
1 Bedroom $1,226
$1,302
+$76 (+6.2%)
2 Bedroom $1,460
$1,547
+$87 (+6.0%)
3 Bedroom $2,046
$2,152
+$106 (+5.2%)
4 Bedroom $2,452
$2,595
+$143 (+5.8%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
17.2%
Affordable
Need $44,120/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
20.3%
Affordable
Need $52,080/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
24.1%
Affordable
Need $61,880/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
33.5%
Burdened
Need $86,080/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
40.4%
Burdened
Need $103,800/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%24.1%
Kootenai County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $77,034 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Idaho rent burden →

Where Kootenai sits among every US county

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

$1,547 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 Kootenai compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Idaho counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Kootenai is highlighted. Nearby Idaho counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Ada County ($1,381), Canyon County ($1,381), Kootenai County (this county) ($1,302), Bonneville County ($1,095), Madison County ($1,008), Twin Falls County ($979), Bannock County ($894).

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 $1,302/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Idaho BLS wages?

Occupation ID Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $107,900 14.5% Affordable
Registered Nurses $86,100 18.1% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $76,480 20.4% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $66,150 23.6% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $64,840 24.1% Affordable
Electricians $60,670 25.8% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $59,620 26.2% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $54,020 28.9% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $53,260 29.3% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $45,210 34.6% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $39,420 39.6% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $35,360 44.2% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $33,400 46.8% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $29,840 52.4% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,450 54.9% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Idaho) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Kootenai (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 79.3% overall, from $726 to $1,302. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +19.2% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$800$1,000$1,200$1,400 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,302
Kootenai County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑6.2% $1,103 $1,302 $1,547
FY 2025 ↑17.7% $1,001 $1,226 $1,460
FY 2024 ↑3.5% $853 $1,042 $1,258
FY 2023 ↑19.2% $838 $1,007 $1,228
FY 2022 ↑11.9% $738 $845 $1,047
FY 2021 ↑4.0% $679 $755 $946
FY 2020 $682 $726 $927
Total change (6yr): +79.3%
Annualized: +10.2%/yr
1 BR: $726 → $1,302

Part of the Coeur d'Alene, ID Metro Area

Kootenai County is a central county of the Coeur d'Alene, ID metropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Kootenai County, both outside Idaho 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 ID (FY2026).

Carson City
NV · 2 BR $1,546/mo
McCone County
MT · 2 BR $1,548/mo
Prairie County
MT · 2 BR $1,548/mo
Wibaux County
MT · 2 BR $1,548/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Luzerne County
PA · 24.1% of income · 2 BR $1,252/mo
Benton County
IN · 24.1% of income · 2 BR $1,242/mo
Teton County
MT · 24.1% of income · 2 BR $1,360/mo
Jackson County
IL · 24.1% of income · 2 BR $916/mo

Nearby Counties in Idaho

Largest counties by population in Idaho

Showing the 8 largest of 43 other counties in Idaho.

Ada County
1 BR: $1,381/mo Pop: 497,494
Canyon County
1 BR: $1,381/mo Pop: 235,006
Bonneville County
1 BR: $1,095/mo Pop: 124,490
Twin Falls County
1 BR: $979/mo Pop: 90,592
Bannock County
1 BR: $894/mo Pop: 87,434
Madison County
1 BR: $1,008/mo Pop: 52,487
Bingham County
1 BR: $742/mo Pop: 48,253
Bonner County
1 BR: $958/mo Pop: 47,976
View all counties in Idaho →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Kootenai County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Kootenai County is $1,302 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,547 and a studio is $1,103.
How does Kootenai County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Kootenai County is 36% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,302 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Kootenai County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Kootenai County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,547 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 Kootenai County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $52,080 ($4,340/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Kootenai County.
Is rent going up or down in Kootenai County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Kootenai County increased by 6.2% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,226 to $1,302.
Which jobs can afford rent in Kootenai County? ▼
Based on Idaho BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,302/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Kootenai County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Kootenai County went from $726 in FY 2020 to $1,302 in FY 2026, a total change of +79.3% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Kootenai County? ▼
In Kootenai County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,302/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 Kootenai County? ▼
For Kootenai County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,302/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.