County FMR · HUD FY2026
Lunenburg County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Lunenburg County, VA - 27% below the US average.
- $697
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $914
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +6.7%
- YoY change
- -27%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Lunenburg is the 16th cheapest of 133 counties in Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #441 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 6.7% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #441
- most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #16
- cheapest of 133 in Virginia (2BR)
- -41%
- vs the state average
- $27,880
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (6.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (28.8%); 15 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Lunenburg County, VA. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Lunenburg County, Virginia at $697 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $914/mo and a studio is $692/mo. This is 27% lower than the national average of $959 and 41% below the Virginia average of $1,182.
Rent increased6.7% from FY 2025 ($653), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $27,880/year.
Observed renter burden: 33.6% of the 1,311 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 0.0%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.6% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Virginia. Population: 11,988. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.3%, Census ACS). That's slower than Virginia's statewide growth of +2.9% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area LUNENBURG·COUNTY·VA·VA
Lunenburg County, VA: $697/mo 1BR · #441 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA VA
- 1BR-FMR $697
- 2BR-FMR $914
- RANK-MID #441
- YOY-SURGE +6.7%
- VSUS-LOW -27%
- VS-ST-LOW -41% VA
- INC-ROOM 15%
- POP-SMALL 12K
- PHOTO-NEAR Fairfax County
- VOUCH-90-110 $627–$767
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Fairfax ($1,318 1BR gap)
Read with: Section 8 housing guide
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $649 | $692 | +$43 (+6.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $653 | $697 | +$44 (+6.7%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $857 | $914 | +$57 (+6.7%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,104 | $1,127 | +$23 (+2.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,367 | $1,254 | $-113 (-8.3%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Lunenburg 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 Lunenburg sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$914 higher than 14% 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 Lunenburg 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
- Lunenburg $697
Lunenburg County
$697 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Lunenburg 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), Lunenburg County (this county) ($697).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
With a below-average 1-bedroom at $697/mo, most of these Virginia occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.
| Occupation | VA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $134,470 | 6.2% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $121,530 | 6.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $88,820 | 9.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $84,190 | 9.9% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $65,110 | 12.8% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,270 | 13.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $61,610 | 13.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,200 | 13.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $54,500 | 15.3% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $42,490 | 19.7% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,210 | 21.3% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,650 | 22.8% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $33,970 | 24.6% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $32,760 | 25.5% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,060 | 28.8% | Affordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Lunenburg County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Lunenburg (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 11.2% overall, from $627 to $697. Rent fell in 3 of the last 6 tracked years, including a 15.7% drop in FY 2024 - an unusual multi-year softening rather than the steady increases seen in most US counties.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑6.7% | $692 | $697 | $914 |
| FY 2025 ↓7.6% | $649 | $653 | $857 |
| FY 2024 ↑15.7% | $702 | $707 | $905 |
| FY 2023 ↓0.8% | $588 | $611 | $793 |
| FY 2022 ↑0.2% | $479 | $616 | $702 |
| FY 2021 ↓1.9% | $472 | $615 | $701 |
| FY 2020 | $482 | $627 | $714 |
Where Lunenburg County Ranks in Virginia
Lunenburg 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 #16 of 133 counties in Virginia. Nearest by rank: Danville city ($914), Dickenson County ($914), Galax city ($914), Grayson County ($914), Halifax County ($914), Henry County ($914), Highland County ($914), Lee County ($914), Lunenburg County (this county) ($914), Martinsville city ($914), Norton city ($914), Patrick County ($914), Pittsylvania County ($914), Russell County ($914), Smyth County ($914), Tazewell County ($914), Wise County ($914).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Lunenburg 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 Lunenburg County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Lunenburg County is $697 per month. A 2-bedroom is $914 and a studio is $692.
How does Lunenburg County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Lunenburg County is 27% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $697 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Lunenburg County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Lunenburg County's 2-bedroom FMR of $914 ranks #441 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the lower-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Lunenburg County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $27,880 ($2,323/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Lunenburg County.
Is rent going up or down in Lunenburg County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lunenburg County increased by 6.7% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $653 to $697.
Which jobs can afford rent in Lunenburg 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 $697/mo. 15 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Lunenburg County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lunenburg County went from $627 in FY 2020 to $697 in FY 2026, a total change of +11.2% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Lunenburg County?
In Lunenburg County, the FY 2026 FMR of $697/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 Lunenburg County?
For Lunenburg County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($697/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Lunenburg County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 0.0%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
What is the unemployment rate in Lunenburg County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.6% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Lunenburg'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 $697 implies about $27,880/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 Lunenburg 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.