County FMR · HUD FY2026
Lancaster County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Lancaster County, NE - 3% below the US average.
- $926
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,141
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +1.8%
- YoY change
- -3%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Lancaster is the 7th most expensive of 93 counties in Nebraska by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #7
- most expensive of 93 in Nebraska (2BR)
- +17%
- vs the state average
- $37,040
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +1.8%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.5%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (39.9%); nearby Nebraska counties range as much as 51% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Lancaster County, NE. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Lancaster County, Nebraska is $926 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,141/mo and a studio is $855/mo. This is 3% lower than the national average of $959 and 17% above the Nebraska average of $791.
Rent increased1.8% from FY 2025 ($910), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $37,040/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Nebraska. Population: 322,063. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+4.4%, Census ACS). That's in line with Nebraska's statewide growth of +3.2% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Lancaster County
The Lancaster County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Nebraska'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 3% below the US average of $959 and 17% higher than the Nebraska state average of $791. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$910 in FY 2025 to $926 in FY 2026 - a change of +1.8%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $926, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $37,040 per year (about $3,087/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,141 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 322,063 and a county median household income of $72,625, 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 | $815 | $855 | +$40 (+4.9%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $910 | $926 | +$16 (+1.8%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,125 | $1,141 | +$16 (+1.4%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,576 | $1,587 | +$11 (+0.7%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,685 | $1,712 | +$27 (+1.6%) |
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 Lancaster 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.
Lancaster County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Lancaster sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,141 Top 37% higher than 63% 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 Lancaster compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Nebraska counties
- Douglas
Douglas County
$1,148 1BR FMR / mo
- Sarpy
Sarpy County
$1,148 1BR FMR / mo
- Hall
Hall County
$978 1BR FMR / mo
- Lancaster
Lancaster County
$926 1BR FMR / mo
- Buffalo
Buffalo County
$863 1BR FMR / mo
- Dodge
Dodge County
$861 1BR FMR / mo
- Scotts Bluff
Scotts Bluff County
$758 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Lancaster is highlighted. Nearby Nebraska counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Douglas County ($1,148), Sarpy County ($1,148), Hall County ($978), Lancaster County (this county) ($926), Buffalo County ($863), Dodge County ($861), Scotts Bluff County ($758).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $926/mo compares to Nebraska salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | NE Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $116,420 | 9.5% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $82,570 | 13.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $81,020 | 13.7% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $72,160 | 15.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $69,980 | 15.9% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,700 | 18% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,410 | 18.1% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $60,020 | 18.5% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,940 | 19.2% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $41,400 | 26.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $40,790 | 27.2% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,820 | 31% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,350 | 36.6% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,420 | 37.8% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $27,840 | 39.9% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Lancaster County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Lancaster (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 38.8% overall, from $667 to $926. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.2% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑1.8% | $855 | $926 | $1,141 |
| FY 2025 ↑6.3% | $815 | $910 | $1,125 |
| FY 2024 ↑10.7% | $766 | $856 | $1,067 |
| FY 2023 ↑12.2% | $684 | $773 | $980 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.1% | $624 | $689 | $888 |
| FY 2021 ↑1.2% | $619 | $675 | $876 |
| FY 2020 | $621 | $667 | $865 |
Part of the Lincoln, NE Metro Area
Lancaster County is a central county of the Lincoln, NE metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.
Lancaster County ranks #1 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Lancaster County (this county) ($926), Seward County ($756).
Nearby Counties in Nebraska
Largest counties by population in Nebraska
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Lancaster County? ▼
How does Lancaster County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Lancaster County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Lancaster County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Lancaster County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Lancaster County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Lancaster County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Lancaster County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Lancaster'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 $926 implies about $37,040/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 Lancaster 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.