County FMR · HUD FY2026
Linn County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Linn County, IA - 15% below the US average.
- $816
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,071
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +7.8%
- YoY change
- -15%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Linn is the 17th most expensive of 99 counties in Iowa by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,415 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 7.8% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #1,415
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #17
- most expensive of 99 in Iowa (2BR)
- +4%
- vs the state average
- $32,640
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (34.5%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Linn County, IA. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Linn County, Iowa at $816 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,071/mo and a studio is $738/mo. This is 15% lower than the national average of $959 and 4% above the Iowa average of $788.
Rent increased7.8% from FY 2025 ($757), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $32,640/year for a 1-bedroom.
Observed renter burden: 41.9% of the 25,366 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 8.7%, 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 3.6% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Iowa. Population: 229,308. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.3%, Census ACS). That's in line with Iowa's statewide growth of +2.0% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area LINN·COUNTY·IA·IA
Linn County, IA: $816/mo 1BR · #1415 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA IA
- 1BR-FMR $816
- 2BR-FMR $1,071
- RANK-MID #1,415
- YOY-SURGE +7.8%
- VSUS-BELOW -15%
- VS-ST-NEAR +4% IA
- INC-ROOM 13%
- POP-MID 229K
- PHOTO-NEAR Polk County
- VOUCH-90-110 $734–$898
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Polk ($293 1BR gap)
Read with: How Fair Market Rent works
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $681 | $738 | +$57 (+8.4%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $757 | $816 | +$59 (+7.8%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $993 | $1,071 | +$78 (+7.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,391 | $1,490 | +$99 (+7.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,668 | $1,797 | +$129 (+7.7%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Linn 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 Linn sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,071 higher than 55% 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 Linn compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Iowa counties
- Polk
Polk County
$1,109 1BR FMR / mo
- Dallas
Dallas County
$1,109 1BR FMR / mo
- Johnson
Johnson County
$961 1BR FMR / mo
- Scott
Scott County
$928 1BR FMR / mo
- Woodbury
Woodbury County
$925 1BR FMR / mo
- Linn
Linn County
$816 1BR FMR / mo
- Black Hawk
Black Hawk County
$801 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Linn is highlighted. Nearby Iowa counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Polk County ($1,109), Dallas County ($1,109), Johnson County ($961), Scott County ($928), Woodbury County ($925), Linn County (this county) ($816), Black Hawk County ($801).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $816/mo compares to Iowa salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | IA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $109,850 | 8.9% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $80,620 | 12.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $76,960 | 12.7% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $74,290 | 13.2% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $73,900 | 13.3% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $62,880 | 15.6% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $55,540 | 17.6% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,080 | 17.8% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $53,280 | 18.4% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $44,990 | 21.8% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $41,380 | 23.7% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,130 | 27.1% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,030 | 32.6% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $28,500 | 34.4% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,400 | 34.5% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Linn County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Linn (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 38.3% overall, from $590 to $816. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.9% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑7.8% | $738 | $816 | $1,071 |
| FY 2025 ↑5.7% | $681 | $757 | $993 |
| FY 2024 ↑2.4% | $638 | $716 | $941 |
| FY 2023 ↑12.9% | $615 | $699 | $920 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.8% | $541 | $619 | $814 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.0% | $524 | $602 | $794 |
| FY 2020 | $506 | $590 | $777 |
Part of the Cedar Rapids, IA Metro Area
Linn County is a central county of the Cedar Rapids, IA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Linn County ranks #1 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Linn County (this county) ($816), Benton County ($729), Jones County ($711).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Linn County, both outside Iowa 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 IA (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside IA).
Nearby Counties in Iowa
Largest counties by population in Iowa
Showing the 8 largest of 98 other counties in Iowa.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Linn County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Linn County is $816 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,071 and a studio is $738.
How does Linn County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Linn County is 15% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $816 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Linn County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Linn County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,071 ranks #1,415 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 Linn County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $32,640 ($2,720/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Linn County.
Is rent going up or down in Linn County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Linn County increased by 7.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $757 to $816.
Which jobs can afford rent in Linn County?
Based on Iowa BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $816/mo. 12 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Linn County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Linn County went from $590 in FY 2020 to $816 in FY 2026, a total change of +38.3% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Linn County?
In Linn County, the FY 2026 FMR of $816/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 Linn County?
For Linn County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($816/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Linn County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 8.7%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in Linn County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.6% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Linn'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 $816 implies about $32,640/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Iowa counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Polk
- See where Linn 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.