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; nationally it ranks #723 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 23.9% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#723
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#7
most expensive of 33 in New Mexico (2BR)
+15%
vs the state average
$42,720
income to afford it (30% rule)

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. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $42,720/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 38.5% of the 7,496 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 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.

FMR filing desk

Area LEA·COUNTY·NM·NM

Lea County, NM: $1,068/mo 1BR · #723 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA NM
  • 1BR-FMR $1,068
  • 2BR-FMR $1,324
  • RANK-MID #723
  • YOY-SURGE +23.9%
  • VSUS-ABOVE +11%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +15% NM
  • INC-ROOM 19%
  • POP-MID 73K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Bernalillo County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $961–$1,175
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Bernalillo ($117 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

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%)

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.

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.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Lea County, both outside New Mexico 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 NM (FY2026).

Teton County
ID · 2 BR $1,323/mo
Lafayette County
FL · 2 BR $1,323/mo
Monroe County
MI · 2 BR $1,326/mo
Kankakee County
IL · 2 BR $1,326/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Clay County
FL · 23.1% of income · 2 BR $1,658/mo
Ottawa County
OK · 23.1% of income · 2 BR $937/mo
Madison County
IN · 23.1% of income · 2 BR $1,206/mo
Brunswick County
NC · 23.1% of income · 2 BR $1,426/mo

Nearby Counties in New Mexico

Largest counties by population in New Mexico

Showing the 8 largest of 32 other counties 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.
Where does Lea County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Lea County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,324 ranks #723 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 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).

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.