County FMR · HUD FY2026

Liberty County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Liberty County, FL - 1% above the US average.

$966
1-bedroom FMR
$1,083
2-bedroom FMR
+19.1%
YoY change
+1%
vs US avg

The verdict

Liberty is the 8th cheapest of 67 counties in Florida by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 19.1% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#8
cheapest of 67 in Florida (2BR)
-25%
vs the state average
$38,640
income to afford it (30% rule)
+19.1%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (41.4%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Liberty County, FL. Verify with HUD →

Liberty County, Florida carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $966 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,083/mo and a studio is $943/mo. That's 1% above the national benchmark of $959 and 25% below the Florida average of $1,296.

Rent increased19.1% from FY 2025 ($811), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $38,640/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Florida. Population: 7,704. Population declined 8.5% over the past five years (Census ACS), a trend that can ease rental-market pressure over time even as FMR reflects recent rent levels. That's slower than Florida's statewide growth of +6.5% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Liberty County

The Liberty County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Florida'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 1% above the US average of $959 and 25% lower than the Florida state average of $1,296. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$811 in FY 2025 to $966 in FY 2026 - a change of +19.1%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $966, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $38,640 per year (about $3,220/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,083 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 7,704 and a county median household income of $53,824, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,212 · US avg: $893
$943/mo
↑ 17.0% YoY -22% vs state +6% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,296 · US avg: $959
$966/mo
↑ 19.1% YoY -25% vs state +1% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,526 · US avg: $1,175
$1,083/mo
↑ 16.1% YoY -29% vs state -8% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,971 · US avg: $1,525
$1,488/mo
↑ 23.1% YoY -25% vs state -2% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,261 · US avg: $1,756
$1,817/mo
↑ 16.0% YoY -20% vs state +3% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $806
$943
+$137 (+17.0%)
1 Bedroom $811
$966
+$155 (+19.1%)
2 Bedroom $933
$1,083
+$150 (+16.1%)
3 Bedroom $1,209
$1,488
+$279 (+23.1%)
4 Bedroom $1,567
$1,817
+$250 (+16.0%)

Affordability Snapshot

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

Required annual income for 1 BR
$38,640
$3,220/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$43,320
$3,610/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
21%
Affordable
Need $37,720/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
21.5%
Affordable
Need $38,640/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
24.1%
Affordable
Need $43,320/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
33.2%
Burdened
Need $59,520/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
40.5%
Burdened
Need $72,680/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.

Liberty County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%24.1%
Liberty County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $53,824 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Florida rent burden →

Where Liberty sits among every US county

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

$1,083 higher than 57% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $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 Liberty compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Florida counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Liberty is highlighted. Nearby Florida counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Miami-Dade County ($1,995), Palm Beach County ($1,901), Broward County ($1,900), Orange County ($1,731), Hillsborough County ($1,696), Duval County ($1,382), Liberty County (this county) ($966).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $966/mo compares to Florida salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation FL Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $126,550 9.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $100,750 11.5% Affordable
Registered Nurses $82,850 14% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $78,470 14.8% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $76,190 15.2% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $60,280 19.2% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $55,550 20.9% Affordable
Electricians $53,100 21.8% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,000 23.2% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $39,640 29.2% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $38,890 29.8% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $31,950 36.3% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $31,540 36.8% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $30,230 38.3% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $27,990 41.4% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Florida) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Liberty (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 54.1% overall, from $627 to $966. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +19.1% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$700$800$900$1,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $966
Liberty County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑19.1% $943 $966 $1,083
FY 2025 ↑4.2% $806 $811 $933
FY 2024 ↑9.6% $774 $778 $905
FY 2023 ↑6.9% $706 $710 $826
FY 2022 ↑3.1% $653 $664 $757
FY 2021 ↑2.7% $629 $644 $734
FY 2020 $609 $627 $714
Total change (6yr): +54.1%
Annualized: +7.5%/yr
1 BR: $627 → $966

Where Liberty County Ranks in Florida

Liberty 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 #8 of 67 counties in Florida. Nearest by rank: Calhoun County ($973), Levy County ($974), Hamilton County ($981), Washington County ($1,017), Taylor County ($1,018), Jackson County ($1,068), Holmes County ($1,078), Liberty County (this county) ($1,083), Madison County ($1,086), Baker County ($1,103), Suwannee County ($1,110), Bradford County ($1,120), Union County ($1,132), Putnam County ($1,155), Dixie County ($1,156), Franklin County ($1,186).

Nearby Counties in Florida

Largest counties by population in Florida

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Liberty County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Liberty County is $966 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,083 and a studio is $943.
How does Liberty County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Liberty County is 1% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $966 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Liberty County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $38,640 ($3,220/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Liberty County.
Is rent going up or down in Liberty County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Liberty County increased by 19.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $811 to $966.
Which jobs can afford rent in Liberty County?
Based on Florida BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $966/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Liberty County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Liberty County went from $627 in FY 2020 to $966 in FY 2026, a total change of +54.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Liberty County?
In Liberty County, the FY 2026 FMR of $966/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 Liberty County?
For Liberty County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($966/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Liberty'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 $966 implies about $38,640/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 Liberty 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.