County FMR · HUD FY2026

Lea County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Lea County, NM - 11% above the US average.

$1,068
1-bedroom FMR
$1,324
2-bedroom FMR
+23.9%
YoY change
+11%
vs US avg

The verdict

Lea is the 7th most expensive of 33 counties in New Mexico by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 23.9% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#7
most expensive of 33 in New Mexico (2BR)
+15%
vs the state average
$42,720
income to afford it (30% rule)
+23.9%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (44.7%); nearby New Mexico counties range as much as 57% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Lea County, NM. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Lea County, New Mexico at $1,068 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,324/mo and a studio is $1,062/mo. This is 11% higher than the national average of $959 and 15% above the New Mexico average of $927.

Rent increased23.9% from FY 2025 ($862), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $42,720/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in New Mexico. Population: 73,103. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+4.3%, Census ACS). That's faster than New Mexico's statewide growth of +1.1% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Lea County

The Lea County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and New Mexico'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.

Lea County's 1-bedroom rent runs 11% above the US average of $959 and 15% higher than the New Mexico state average of $927. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$862 in FY 2025 to $1,068 in FY 2026 - a change of +23.9%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,068, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $42,720 per year (about $3,560/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,324 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 73,103 and a county median household income of $68,750, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $828 · US avg: $893
$1,062/mo
↑ 31.8% YoY +28% vs state +19% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $927 · US avg: $959
$1,068/mo
↑ 23.9% YoY +15% vs state +11% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,129 · US avg: $1,175
$1,324/mo
↑ 17.1% YoY +17% vs state +13% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,496 · US avg: $1,525
$1,641/mo
↑ 17.5% YoY +10% vs state +8% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,758 · US avg: $1,756
$1,829/mo
↑ 14.4% YoY +4% vs state +4% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $806
$1,062
+$256 (+31.8%)
1 Bedroom $862
$1,068
+$206 (+23.9%)
2 Bedroom $1,131
$1,324
+$193 (+17.1%)
3 Bedroom $1,397
$1,641
+$244 (+17.5%)
4 Bedroom $1,599
$1,829
+$230 (+14.4%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$42,720
$3,560/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$52,960
$4,413/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
18.5%
Affordable
Need $42,480/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
18.6%
Affordable
Need $42,720/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
23.1%
Affordable
Need $52,960/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
28.6%
Affordable
Need $65,640/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
31.9%
Burdened
Need $73,160/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.

Lea County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%23.1%
Lea County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $68,750 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View New Mexico rent burden →

Where Lea sits among every US county

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

$1,324 Top 23% higher than 77% 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 Lea compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other New Mexico counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Lea is highlighted. Nearby New Mexico counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Santa Fe County ($1,390), Bernalillo County ($1,185), Sandoval County ($1,185), Valencia County ($1,185), Lea County (this county) ($1,068), Dona Ana County ($951), San Juan County ($885).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,068/mo compares to New Mexico salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation NM Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $120,820 10.6% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $100,200 12.8% Affordable
Registered Nurses $88,260 14.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,420 16.6% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $65,510 19.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $63,340 20.2% Affordable
Electricians $56,890 22.5% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $56,620 22.6% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $48,360 26.5% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $44,970 28.5% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $38,060 33.7% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $33,640 38.1% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $31,360 40.9% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $30,350 42.2% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,650 44.7% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (New Mexico) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Lea (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 47.9% overall, from $722 to $1,068. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 23.9% (FY 2026), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$600$700$800$900$1,000$1,100 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,068
Lea County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑23.9% $1,062 $1,068 $1,324
FY 2025 ↓3.0% $806 $862 $1,131
FY 2024 ↑14.6% $801 $889 $1,168
FY 2023 ↑9.8% $688 $776 $1,021
FY 2022 ↓9.2% $675 $707 $930
FY 2021 ↑7.9% $749 $779 $1,026
FY 2020 $717 $722 $951
Total change (6yr): +47.9%
Annualized: +6.7%/yr
1 BR: $722 → $1,068

Part of the Hobbs, NM Micro Area

Lea County is a central county of the Hobbs, NM micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in New Mexico

Largest counties by population in New Mexico

Bernalillo County
1 BR: $1,185/mo Pop: 674,692
Dona Ana County
1 BR: $951/mo Pop: 219,870
Santa Fe County
1 BR: $1,390/mo Pop: 154,481
Sandoval County
1 BR: $1,185/mo Pop: 149,460
San Juan County
1 BR: $885/mo Pop: 121,798
Valencia County
1 BR: $1,185/mo Pop: 76,613
McKinley County
1 BR: $894/mo Pop: 72,073
Otero County
1 BR: $792/mo Pop: 67,850
View all counties in New Mexico →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Lea County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Lea County is $1,068 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,324 and a studio is $1,062.
How does Lea County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Lea County is 11% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,068 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Lea County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $42,720 ($3,560/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Lea County.
Is rent going up or down in Lea County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lea County increased by 23.9% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $862 to $1,068.
Which jobs can afford rent in Lea County? ▼
Based on New Mexico BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,068/mo. 10 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Lea County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lea County went from $722 in FY 2020 to $1,068 in FY 2026, a total change of +47.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Lea County? ▼
In Lea County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,068/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 Lea County? ▼
For Lea County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,068/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Lea'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 $1,068 implies about $42,720/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 Lea 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.

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.