County FMR · HUD FY2026

Lackawanna County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Lackawanna County, PA - 7% above the US average.

$1,028
1-bedroom FMR
$1,252
2-bedroom FMR
+10.8%
YoY change
+7%
vs US avg

The verdict

Lackawanna is the 30th most expensive of 67 counties in Pennsylvania by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #881 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 10.8% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#881
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#30
most expensive of 67 in Pennsylvania (2BR)
+3%
vs the state average
$41,120
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (43.3%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Lackawanna County, PA. Verify with HUD →

Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,028 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,252/mo and a studio is $863/mo. That's 7% above the national benchmark of $959 and 3% above the Pennsylvania average of $996.

Rent increased10.8% from FY 2025 ($928), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $41,120/year for a 1-bedroom.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Pennsylvania. Population: 215,672. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.1%, Census ACS). That's in line with Pennsylvania's statewide growth of +1.5% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area LACKAWANNA·COUNTY·PA·PA

Lackawanna County, PA: $1,028/mo 1BR · #881 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA PA
  • 1BR-FMR $1,028
  • 2BR-FMR $1,252
  • RANK-MID #881
  • YOY-SURGE +10.8%
  • VSUS-NEAR +7%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +3% PA
  • INC-ROOM 19%
  • POP-MID 216K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Philadelphia Count
  • VOUCH-90-110 $925–$1,131
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Philadelphia ($492 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $900 · US avg: $893
$863/mo
↑ 10.8% YoY -4% vs state -3% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $996 · US avg: $959
$1,028/mo
↑ 10.8% YoY +3% vs state +7% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,225 · US avg: $1,175
$1,252/mo
↑ 11.5% YoY +2% vs state +7% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,570 · US avg: $1,525
$1,631/mo
↑ 11.6% YoY +4% vs state +7% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,744 · US avg: $1,756
$1,766/mo
↑ 10.7% YoY +1% vs state +1% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $779
$863
+$84 (+10.8%)
1 Bedroom $928
$1,028
+$100 (+10.8%)
2 Bedroom $1,123
$1,252
+$129 (+11.5%)
3 Bedroom $1,462
$1,631
+$169 (+11.6%)
4 Bedroom $1,596
$1,766
+$170 (+10.7%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
16%
Affordable
Need $34,520/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
19.1%
Affordable
Need $41,120/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
23.2%
Affordable
Need $50,080/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
30.3%
Burdened
Need $65,240/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
32.8%
Burdened
Need $70,640/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%23.2%
Lackawanna County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $64,691 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Pennsylvania rent burden →

Where Lackawanna sits among every US county

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

$1,252 Top 28% higher than 72% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Lackawanna compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Pennsylvania counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Lackawanna is highlighted. Nearby Pennsylvania counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Philadelphia County ($1,520), Montgomery County ($1,520), Bucks County ($1,520), Delaware County ($1,520), Lancaster County ($1,220), Allegheny County ($1,077), Lackawanna County (this county) ($1,028).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,028/mo compares to Pennsylvania salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation PA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $123,740 10% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $100,400 12.3% Affordable
Registered Nurses $87,610 14.1% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $86,350 14.3% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,330 16% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $74,160 16.6% Affordable
Electricians $65,400 18.9% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $60,950 20.2% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $58,540 21.1% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $43,080 28.6% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $37,560 32.8% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $35,670 34.6% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $30,550 40.4% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $30,410 40.6% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,490 43.3% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Pennsylvania) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Lackawanna (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 56.5% overall, from $657 to $1,028. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.5% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$700$800$900$1,000$1,100 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,028
Lackawanna County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑10.8% $863 $1,028 $1,252
FY 2025 ↑8.7% $779 $928 $1,123
FY 2024 ↑3.5% $730 $854 $1,039
FY 2023 ↑15.5% $706 $825 $1,008
FY 2022 ↑4.2% $614 $714 $877
FY 2021 ↑4.3% $590 $685 $839
FY 2020 $566 $657 $803
Total change (6yr): +56.5%
Annualized: +7.7%/yr
1 BR: $657 → $1,028

Part of the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area

Lackawanna County is a central county of the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.

Lackawanna County ranks #3 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Luzerne County ($1,028), Wyoming County ($1,028), Lackawanna County (this county) ($1,028).

Luzerne County
1 BR: $1,028/mo
Wyoming County
1 BR: $1,028/mo
Lackawanna County (this county)
1 BR: $1,028/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Lackawanna County, both outside Pennsylvania 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 PA (FY2026).

Glades County
FL · 2 BR $1,252/mo
Washington County
ME · 2 BR $1,252/mo
Cumberland County
NC · 2 BR $1,251/mo
Jefferson County
WV · 2 BR $1,251/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Dawson County
TX · 23.2% of income · 2 BR $1,080/mo
Lincoln County
NM · 23.2% of income · 2 BR $999/mo
Baldwin County
GA · 23.2% of income · 2 BR $1,073/mo
Bacon County
GA · 23.2% of income · 2 BR $973/mo

Nearby Counties in Pennsylvania

Largest counties by population in Pennsylvania

Showing the 8 largest of 66 other counties in Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 1,593,208
Allegheny County
1 BR: $1,077/mo Pop: 1,245,310
Montgomery County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 856,399
Bucks County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 645,163
Delaware County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 575,312
Lancaster County
1 BR: $1,220/mo Pop: 553,202
Chester County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 536,474
York County
1 BR: $1,060/mo Pop: 457,051
View all counties in Pennsylvania →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Lackawanna County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Lackawanna County is $1,028 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,252 and a studio is $863.
How does Lackawanna County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Lackawanna County is 7% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,028 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Lackawanna County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Lackawanna County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,252 ranks #881 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 Lackawanna County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $41,120 ($3,427/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Lackawanna County.
Is rent going up or down in Lackawanna County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lackawanna County increased by 10.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $928 to $1,028.
Which jobs can afford rent in Lackawanna County? ▼
Based on Pennsylvania BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,028/mo. 10 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Lackawanna County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lackawanna County went from $657 in FY 2020 to $1,028 in FY 2026, a total change of +56.5% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Lackawanna County? ▼
In Lackawanna County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,028/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 Lackawanna County? ▼
For Lackawanna County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,028/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.