County FMR · HUD FY2026

Lake County Fair Market Rent

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

$1,024
1-bedroom FMR
$1,343
2-bedroom FMR
+3.2%
YoY change
+7%
vs US avg

The verdict

Lake is the 27th most expensive of 64 counties in Colorado by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #692 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#692
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#27
most expensive of 64 in Colorado (2BR)
-12%
vs the state average
$40,960
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.1%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (39.1%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Lake County, CO. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Lake County, Colorado at $1,024 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,343/mo and a studio is $1,017/mo. This is 7% higher than the national average of $959 and 12% below the Colorado average of $1,161.

Rent increased3.2% from FY 2025 ($992), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $40,960/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 52.2% of the 709 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 Colorado. Population: 7,403. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.3%, Census ACS). That's slower than Colorado's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area LAKE·COUNTY·CO·CO

Lake County, CO: $1,024/mo 1BR · #692 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA CO
  • 1BR-FMR $1,024
  • 2BR-FMR $1,343
  • RANK-MID #692
  • YOY-UP +3.2%
  • VSUS-NEAR +7%
  • VS-ST-LOW -12% CO
  • INC-ROOM 13%
  • POP-SMALL 7K
  • PHOTO-NEAR El Paso County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $922–$1,126
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: El Paso ($440 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,083 · US avg: $893
$1,017/mo
↑ 3.1% YoY -6% vs state +14% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,161 · US avg: $959
$1,024/mo
↑ 3.2% YoY -12% vs state +7% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,429 · US avg: $1,175
$1,343/mo
↑ 3.1% YoY -6% vs state +14% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,861 · US avg: $1,525
$1,714/mo
↑ 3.0% YoY -8% vs state +12% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,178 · US avg: $1,756
$2,106/mo
↑ 1.2% YoY -3% vs state +20% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $986
$1,017
+$31 (+3.1%)
1 Bedroom $992
$1,024
+$32 (+3.2%)
2 Bedroom $1,302
$1,343
+$41 (+3.1%)
3 Bedroom $1,664
$1,714
+$50 (+3.0%)
4 Bedroom $2,082
$2,106
+$24 (+1.2%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
13%
Affordable
Need $40,680/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
13.1%
Affordable
Need $40,960/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
17.2%
Affordable
Need $53,720/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
22%
Affordable
Need $68,560/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
27%
Affordable
Need $84,240/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%17.2%
Lake County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $93,655 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Colorado rent burden →

Where Lake sits among every US county

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

$1,343 Top 22% higher than 78% 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 Lake compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Colorado counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Lake is highlighted. Nearby Colorado counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Denver County ($1,754), Arapahoe County ($1,754), Jefferson County ($1,754), Adams County ($1,754), Douglas County ($1,754), El Paso County ($1,464), Lake County (this county) ($1,024).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,024/mo compares to Colorado salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation CO Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $134,540 9.1% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $130,340 9.4% Affordable
Registered Nurses $96,520 12.7% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $96,100 12.8% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $90,030 13.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $73,380 16.7% Affordable
Electricians $62,090 19.8% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $61,550 20% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,260 20.4% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $48,070 25.6% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $46,020 26.7% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $37,270 33% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $36,960 33.2% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $35,440 34.7% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $31,390 39.1% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Colorado) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Lake (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 50.1% overall, from $682 to $1,024. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 20.8% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$600$700$800$900$1,000$1,100 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,024
Lake County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑3.2% $1,017 $1,024 $1,343
FY 2025 ↓4.4% $986 $992 $1,302
FY 2024 ↑20.8% $1,031 $1,038 $1,364
FY 2023 ↑2.1% $796 $859 $970
FY 2022 ↑10.2% $813 $841 $958
FY 2021 ↑11.9% $746 $763 $870
FY 2020 $670 $682 $787
Total change (6yr): +50.1%
Annualized: +7.0%/yr
1 BR: $682 → $1,024

Part of the Breckenridge, CO Micro Area

Lake County is a outlying county of the Breckenridge, CO micropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other micro-area county.

Lake County ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Summit County ($1,880), Lake County (this county) ($1,024).

Summit County
1 BR: $1,880/mo
Lake County (this county)
1 BR: $1,024/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Lake County, both outside Colorado 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 CO (FY2026).

Erie County
NY · 2 BR $1,343/mo
Niagara County
NY · 2 BR $1,343/mo
Musselshell County
MT · 2 BR $1,344/mo
Baldwin County
AL · 2 BR $1,345/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Clay County
IA · 17.2% of income · 2 BR $919/mo
Jefferson County
WI · 17.2% of income · 2 BR $1,156/mo
Rice County
MN · 17.2% of income · 2 BR $1,187/mo
Callaway County
MO · 17.2% of income · 2 BR $1,042/mo

Nearby Counties in Colorado

Largest counties by population in Colorado

Showing the 8 largest of 63 other counties in Colorado.

El Paso County
1 BR: $1,464/mo Pop: 730,323
Denver County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 710,800
Arapahoe County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 654,453
Jefferson County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 580,519
Adams County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 520,149
Douglas County
1 BR: $1,754/mo Pop: 360,206
Larimer County
1 BR: $1,537/mo Pop: 359,363
Weld County
1 BR: $1,238/mo Pop: 331,466
View all counties in Colorado →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Lake County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Lake County is $1,024 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,343 and a studio is $1,017.
How does Lake County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Lake County is 7% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,024 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Lake County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Lake County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,343 ranks #692 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 Lake County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $40,960 ($3,413/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Lake County.
Is rent going up or down in Lake County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lake County increased by 3.2% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $992 to $1,024.
Which jobs can afford rent in Lake County? ▼
Based on Colorado BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,024/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Lake County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lake County went from $682 in FY 2020 to $1,024 in FY 2026, a total change of +50.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Lake County? ▼
In Lake County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,024/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 Lake County? ▼
For Lake County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,024/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.