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.

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)

Studio
State avg: $1,053 · US avg: $893
$873/mo
↓ 1.5% YoY -17% vs state -2% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,151 · US avg: $959
$879/mo
↓ 3.2% YoY -24% vs state -8% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,419 · US avg: $1,175
$1,153/mo
↓ 3.2% YoY -19% vs state -2% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,889 · US avg: $1,525
$1,604/mo
↓ 3.9% YoY -15% vs state +5% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,158 · US avg: $1,756
$1,934/mo
↓ 3.3% YoY -10% vs state +10% vs US

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.

Studio
21.2%
Affordable
Need $34,920/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
21.3%
Affordable
Need $35,160/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
27.9%
Affordable
Need $46,120/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
38.9%
Burdened
Need $64,160/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
46.9%
Burdened
Need $77,360/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%27.9%
La Paz County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $49,506 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Arizona rent burden →

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

$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 La Paz compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Arizona counties

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).

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

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
Salaries: BLS OES (Arizona) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

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).

$600$700$800$900$1,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $879
La Paz County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
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
Total change (6yr): +35.0%
Annualized: +5.1%/yr
1 BR: $651 → $879

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).

Santa Cruz County
2 BR: $1,129/mo
La Paz County (this county)
2 BR: $1,153/mo
Greenlee County
2 BR: $1,158/mo
Apache County
2 BR: $1,175/mo
Graham County
2 BR: $1,244/mo
Cochise County
2 BR: $1,257/mo

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).

Warren County
KY · 2 BR $1,153/mo
Story County
IA · 2 BR $1,153/mo
Jackson County
GA · 2 BR $1,153/mo
Edmonson County
KY · 2 BR $1,153/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Anderson County
TN · 27.9% of income · 2 BR $1,471/mo
Fresno County
CA · 28% of income · 2 BR $1,664/mo
Harlan County
KY · 27.9% of income · 2 BR $866/mo
Lake County
MT · 28% of income · 2 BR $1,444/mo

Nearby Counties in Arizona

Largest counties by population in Arizona

Showing the 8 largest of 14 other counties in Arizona.

Maricopa County
1 BR: $1,583/mo Pop: 4,430,871
Pima County
1 BR: $1,081/mo Pop: 1,042,393
Pinal County
1 BR: $1,583/mo Pop: 433,338
Yavapai County
1 BR: $1,309/mo Pop: 237,830
Mohave County
1 BR: $1,060/mo Pop: 214,229
Yuma County
1 BR: $1,053/mo Pop: 204,374
Coconino County
1 BR: $1,727/mo Pop: 144,705
Cochise County
1 BR: $1,111/mo Pop: 125,504
View all 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).

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.