County FMR · HUD FY2026
La Paz County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for La Paz County, AZ - 8% below the US average.
- $879
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,153
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -3.2%
- YoY change
- -8%
- vs US avg
The verdict
La Paz is the 2nd cheapest of 15 counties in Arizona by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,132 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #1,132
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #2
- cheapest of 15 in Arizona (2BR)
- -24%
- vs the state average
- $35,160
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (31.9%); 13 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Arizona counties range as much as 50% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for La Paz County, AZ. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in La Paz County, Arizona is $879 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,153/mo and a studio is $873/mo. This is 8% lower than the national average of $959 and 24% below the Arizona average of $1,151.
Rent decreased3.2% from FY 2025 ($908), declining against the trend. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $35,160/year for a 1-bedroom.
Observed renter burden: 24.8% of the 2,628 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.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 1.9%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 6.6% over the past 12 months, well above the national norm, a headwind for household budgets that can also soften local rent growth.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Arizona. Population: 16,681. Population declined 19.8% over the past five years (Census ACS), a trend that can ease rental-market pressure over time even as FMR reflects recent rent levels. That's slower than Arizona's statewide growth of +4.6% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area LA·PAZ·COUNTY·AZ·AZ
La Paz County, AZ: $879/mo 1BR · #1132 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA AZ
- 1BR-FMR $879
- 2BR-FMR $1,153
- RANK-MID #1,132
- YOY-DOWN -3.2%
- VSUS-BELOW -8%
- VS-ST-LOW -24% AZ
- INC-MID 21%
- POP-SMALL 17K
- PHOTO-NEAR Maricopa County
- VOUCH-90-110 $791–$967
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Maricopa ($704 1BR gap)
Read with: How Fair Market Rent works
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $886 | $873 | $-13 (-1.5%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $908 | $879 | $-29 (-3.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,191 | $1,153 | $-38 (-3.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,669 | $1,604 | $-65 (-3.9%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,000 | $1,934 | $-66 (-3.3%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in La Paz County. 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.
Where La Paz sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,153 Top 36% higher than 64% 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 La Paz compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Arizona counties
- Maricopa
Maricopa County
$1,583 1BR FMR / mo
- Pinal
Pinal County
$1,583 1BR FMR / mo
- Yavapai
Yavapai County
$1,309 1BR FMR / mo
- Pima
Pima County
$1,081 1BR FMR / mo
- Mohave
Mohave County
$1,060 1BR FMR / mo
- Yuma
Yuma County
$1,053 1BR FMR / mo
- La Paz
La Paz County
$879 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows La Paz is highlighted. Nearby Arizona counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Maricopa County ($1,583), Pinal County ($1,583), Yavapai County ($1,309), Pima County ($1,081), Mohave County ($1,060), Yuma County ($1,053), La Paz County (this county) ($879).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $879/mo compares to Arizona salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | AZ Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $128,690 | 8.2% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $96,890 | 10.9% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $90,000 | 11.7% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $79,370 | 13.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $78,620 | 13.4% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,220 | 17.2% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $59,480 | 17.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $53,690 | 19.6% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $50,980 | 20.7% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $47,620 | 22.2% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,440 | 24.3% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,140 | 29.2% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,320 | 29.9% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $34,550 | 30.5% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $33,060 | 31.9% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for La Paz County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for La Paz (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 35.0% overall, from $651 to $879. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.9% (FY 2022).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓3.2% | $873 | $879 | $1,153 |
| FY 2025 ↑0.9% | $886 | $908 | $1,191 |
| FY 2024 ↑6.6% | $801 | $900 | $1,182 |
| FY 2023 ↑4.5% | $743 | $844 | $1,111 |
| FY 2022 ↑11.9% | $710 | $808 | $1,063 |
| FY 2021 ↑10.9% | $643 | $722 | $952 |
| FY 2020 | $593 | $651 | $857 |
Where La Paz County Ranks in Arizona
La Paz 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 #2 of 15 counties in Arizona. Nearest by rank: Santa Cruz County ($1,129), La Paz County (this county) ($1,153), Greenlee County ($1,158), Apache County ($1,175), Graham County ($1,244), Cochise County ($1,257).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for La Paz County, both outside Arizona 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 AZ (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside AZ).
Nearby Counties in Arizona
Largest counties by population in Arizona
Showing the 8 largest of 14 other counties in Arizona.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in La Paz County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in La Paz County is $879 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,153 and a studio is $873.
How does La Paz County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in La Paz County is 8% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $879 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does La Paz County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, La Paz County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,153 ranks #1,132 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 La Paz County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $35,160 ($2,930/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in La Paz County.
Is rent going up or down in La Paz County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in La Paz County decreased by 3.2% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $908 to $879.
Which jobs can afford rent in La Paz County?
Based on Arizona BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $879/mo. 13 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in La Paz County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in La Paz County went from $651 in FY 2020 to $879 in FY 2026, a total change of +35.0% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in La Paz County?
In La Paz County, the FY 2026 FMR of $879/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 La Paz County?
For La Paz County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($879/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in La Paz County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 1.9%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
What is the unemployment rate in La Paz County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 6.6% over the past 12 months, well above the national norm, a headwind for household budgets that can also soften local rent growth.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat La Paz's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $879 implies about $35,160/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Arizona counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Maricopa
- See where La Paz ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.