County FMR · HUD FY2026
Kusilvak Census Area Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Kusilvak Census Area, AK - 20% below the US average.
- $767
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $973
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +5.1%
- YoY change
- -20%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Kusilvak is the 1st cheapest of 30 counties in Alaska by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 5.1% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #1
- cheapest of 30 in Alaska (2BR)
- -36%
- vs the state average
- $30,680
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +5.1%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.6%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (30.1%); 14 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Alaska counties range as much as 72% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Kusilvak Census Area, AK. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska is $767 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $973/mo and a studio is $698/mo. This is 20% lower than the national average of $959 and 36% below the Alaska average of $1,194.
Rent increased5.1% from FY 2025 ($730), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $30,680/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Alaska. Population: 8,372. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.0%, Census ACS). That's faster than Alaska's statewide growth of -0.6% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Kusilvak Census Area
The Kusilvak Census Area FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Alaska'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 20% below the US average of $959 and 36% lower than the Alaska state average of $1,194. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$730 in FY 2025 to $767 in FY 2026 - a change of +5.1%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $767, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $30,680 per year (about $2,557/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $973 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 8,372 and a county median household income of $48,233, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $667 | $698 | +$31 (+4.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $730 | $767 | +$37 (+5.1%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $933 | $973 | +$40 (+4.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,251 | $1,353 | +$102 (+8.2%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,475 | $1,602 | +$127 (+8.6%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Kusilvak Census Area. 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.
Kusilvak Census Area 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Kusilvak sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$973 higher than 31% 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 Kusilvak compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Alaska counties
- Bethel
Bethel Census Area
$1,719 1BR FMR / mo
- Juneau City and
Juneau City and Borough
$1,340 1BR FMR / mo
- Fairbanks North Star
Fairbanks North Star Borough
$1,277 1BR FMR / mo
- Anchorage Municipality
Anchorage Municipality
$1,243 1BR FMR / mo
- Matanuska-Susitna
Matanuska-Susitna Borough
$1,049 1BR FMR / mo
- Kenai Peninsula
Kenai Peninsula Borough
$1,000 1BR FMR / mo
- Kusilvak
Kusilvak Census Area
$767 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Kusilvak is highlighted. Nearby Alaska counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Bethel Census Area ($1,719), Juneau City and Borough ($1,340), Fairbanks North Star Borough ($1,277), Anchorage Municipality ($1,243), Matanuska-Susitna Borough ($1,049), Kenai Peninsula Borough ($1,000), Kusilvak Census Area (this county) ($767).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $767/mo compares to Alaska salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | AK Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| General & Operations Managers | $120,470 | 7.6% | Affordable |
| Software Developers | $119,600 | 7.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $110,690 | 8.3% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $100,300 | 9.2% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $81,950 | 11.2% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $81,860 | 11.2% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $76,290 | 12.1% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,890 | 14.2% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,120 | 15.1% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $50,440 | 18.2% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $44,760 | 20.6% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $39,040 | 23.6% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,940 | 24.9% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $34,430 | 26.7% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,560 | 30.1% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Kusilvak Census Area. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Kusilvak (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 4.8% overall, from $732 to $767. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.0% (FY 2021).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑5.1% | $698 | $767 | $973 |
| FY 2025 ↑5.2% | $667 | $730 | $933 |
| FY 2024 ↑0.0% | $638 | $694 | $905 |
| FY 2023 ↑5.2% | $640 | $694 | $913 |
| FY 2022 ↑0.2% | $604 | $660 | $868 |
| FY 2021 ↓10.0% | $606 | $659 | $863 |
| FY 2020 | $662 | $732 | $943 |
Where Kusilvak Census Area Ranks in Alaska
Kusilvak Census Area 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 #1 of 30 counties in Alaska. Nearest by rank: Kusilvak Census Area (this county) ($973), Lake and Peninsula Borough ($1,030), Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area ($1,126), Copper River Census Area ($1,130), Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area ($1,153), Denali Borough ($1,187).
Nearby Counties in Alaska
Largest counties by population in Alaska
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Kusilvak Census Area? ▼
How does Kusilvak Census Area rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Kusilvak Census Area? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Kusilvak Census Area? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Kusilvak Census Area? ▼
How much has rent changed in Kusilvak Census Area over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Kusilvak Census Area? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Kusilvak Census Area? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Kusilvak'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 $767 implies about $30,680/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 Kusilvak 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.
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.