County FMR · HUD FY2026
Lancaster County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Lancaster County, VA - 10% below the US average.
- $862
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,052
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +3.4%
- YoY change
- -10%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Lancaster is the 47th cheapest of 133 counties in Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,478 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #1,478
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #47
- cheapest of 133 in Virginia (2BR)
- -27%
- vs the state average
- $34,480
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (35.6%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Lancaster County, VA. Verify with HUD →
Lancaster County, Virginia carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $862 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,052/mo and a studio is $857/mo. That's 10% below the national benchmark of $959 and 27% below the Virginia average of $1,182.
Rent increased3.4% from FY 2025 ($834), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $34,480/year for a 1-bedroom.
Observed renter burden: 48.4% of the 1,104 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 8.1%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 5.0% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Virginia. Population: 10,866. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.7%, Census ACS). That's slower than Virginia's statewide growth of +2.9% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area LANCASTER·COUNTY·VA·VA
Lancaster County, VA: $862/mo 1BR · #1478 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA VA
- 1BR-FMR $862
- 2BR-FMR $1,052
- RANK-MID #1,478
- YOY-UP +3.4%
- VSUS-BELOW -10%
- VS-ST-LOW -27% VA
- INC-ROOM 15%
- POP-SMALL 11K
- PHOTO-NEAR Fairfax County
- VOUCH-90-110 $776–$948
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Fairfax ($1,153 1BR gap)
Read with: How Fair Market Rent works
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $829 | $857 | +$28 (+3.4%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $834 | $862 | +$28 (+3.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,030 | $1,052 | +$22 (+2.1%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,360 | $1,463 | +$103 (+7.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,584 | $1,765 | +$181 (+11.4%) |
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.
Where Lancaster sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,052 higher than 53% 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 Virginia counties
- Fairfax
Fairfax County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Prince William
Prince William County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Loudoun
Loudoun County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Virginia Beach city
Virginia Beach city
$1,512 1BR FMR / mo
- Chesterfield
Chesterfield County
$1,507 1BR FMR / mo
- Henrico
Henrico County
$1,507 1BR FMR / mo
- Lancaster
Lancaster County
$862 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Lancaster is highlighted. Nearby Virginia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fairfax County ($2,015), Prince William County ($2,015), Loudoun County ($2,015), Virginia Beach city ($1,512), Chesterfield County ($1,507), Henrico County ($1,507), Lancaster County (this county) ($862).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $862/mo compares to Virginia salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | VA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $134,470 | 7.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $121,530 | 8.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $88,820 | 11.6% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $84,190 | 12.3% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $65,110 | 15.9% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,270 | 16.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $61,610 | 16.8% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,200 | 16.9% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $54,500 | 19% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $42,490 | 24.3% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,210 | 26.4% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,650 | 28.2% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $33,970 | 30.5% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $32,760 | 31.6% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,060 | 35.6% | 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 8.8% overall, from $792 to $862. Rent fell in 3 of the last 6 tracked years, including a 11.5% drop in FY 2023 - an unusual multi-year softening rather than the steady increases seen in most US counties.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑3.4% | $857 | $862 | $1,052 |
| FY 2025 ↓7.1% | $829 | $834 | $1,030 |
| FY 2024 ↑8.6% | $893 | $898 | $1,114 |
| FY 2023 ↑11.5% | $765 | $827 | $1,031 |
| FY 2022 ↓1.5% | $636 | $742 | $932 |
| FY 2021 ↓4.9% | $640 | $753 | $950 |
| FY 2020 | $671 | $792 | $995 |
Where Lancaster County Ranks in Virginia
Lancaster 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 #47 of 133 counties in Virginia. Nearest by rank: Lexington city ($1,005), Rockbridge County ($1,005), Surry County ($1,039), Bristol city ($1,044), Scott County ($1,044), Washington County ($1,044), Franklin city ($1,051), Southampton County ($1,051), Lancaster County (this county) ($1,052), Accomack County ($1,054), Madison County ($1,066), Shenandoah County ($1,091), Floyd County ($1,094), Prince Edward County ($1,094), Essex County ($1,113), Richmond County ($1,157), Amherst County ($1,187).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Lancaster County, both outside Virginia 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 VA (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside VA).
Nearby Counties in Virginia
Largest counties by population in Virginia
Showing the 8 largest of 132 other counties in Virginia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Lancaster County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Lancaster County is $862 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,052 and a studio is $857.
How does Lancaster County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Lancaster County is 10% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $862 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Lancaster County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Lancaster County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,052 ranks #1,478 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 Lancaster County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $34,480 ($2,873/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Lancaster County.
Is rent going up or down in Lancaster County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lancaster County increased by 3.4% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $834 to $862.
Which jobs can afford rent in Lancaster County?
Based on Virginia BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $862/mo. 12 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Lancaster County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lancaster County went from $792 in FY 2020 to $862 in FY 2026, a total change of +8.8% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Lancaster County?
In Lancaster County, the FY 2026 FMR of $862/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 Lancaster County?
For Lancaster County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($862/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Lancaster County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 8.1%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in Lancaster County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 5.0% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Lancaster'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 $862 implies about $34,480/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Virginia counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Fairfax
- See where Lancaster 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.