County FMR · HUD FY2026
Manatee County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Manatee County, FL - 76% above the US average.
- $1,686
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,958
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +6.7%
- YoY change
- +76%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Manatee is the 16th most expensive of 67 counties in Florida by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #126 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 6.7% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #126
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #16
- most expensive of 67 in Florida (2BR)
- +30%
- vs the state average
- $67,440
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (16%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (72.3%); only 5 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 Manatee County, FL. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Manatee County, Florida at $1,686 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,958/mo and a studio is $1,418/mo. This is 76% higher than the national average of $959 and 30% above the Florida average of $1,296.
Rent increased6.7% from FY 2025 ($1,580), outpacing inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $67,440/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.
Observed renter burden: 54.5% of the 42,651 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 16.3%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.8% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Florida. Population: 405,069. Population grew 11.3% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Florida's statewide growth of +6.5% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area MANATEE·COUNTY·FL·FL
Manatee County, FL: $1,686/mo 1BR · #126 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA FL
- 1BR-FMR $1,686
- 2BR-FMR $1,958
- RANK-UPPER #126
- YOY-SURGE +6.7%
- VSUS-HIGH +76%
- VS-ST-HIGH +30% FL
- INC-MID 27%
- POP-MAJOR 405K
- PHOTO-NEAR Miami-Dade County
- VOUCH-90-110 $1,517–$1,855
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Miami-Dade ($309 1BR gap)
Read with: Understanding rent burden
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,266 | $1,418 | +$152 (+12.0%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,580 | $1,686 | +$106 (+6.7%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,846 | $1,958 | +$112 (+6.1%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,425 | $2,537 | +$112 (+4.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,903 | $3,027 | +$124 (+4.3%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Manatee 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 Manatee sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,958 Top 4% higher than 96% 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 Manatee compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Florida counties
- Miami-Dade
Miami-Dade County
$1,995 1BR FMR / mo
- Palm Beach
Palm Beach County
$1,901 1BR FMR / mo
- Broward
Broward County
$1,900 1BR FMR / mo
- Orange
Orange County
$1,731 1BR FMR / mo
- Hillsborough
Hillsborough County
$1,696 1BR FMR / mo
- Manatee
Manatee County
$1,686 1BR FMR / mo
- Duval
Duval County
$1,382 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Manatee 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), Manatee County (this county) ($1,686), Duval County ($1,382).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,686/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Florida BLS wages?
| Occupation | FL Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $126,550 | 16% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $100,750 | 20.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $82,850 | 24.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $78,470 | 25.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,190 | 26.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $60,280 | 33.6% | Stretched |
| Elementary School Teachers | $55,550 | 36.4% | Stretched |
| Electricians | $53,100 | 38.1% | Stretched |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,000 | 40.5% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $39,640 | 51% | Unaffordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $38,890 | 52% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,950 | 63.3% | Unaffordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $31,540 | 64.1% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,230 | 66.9% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,990 | 72.3% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Manatee County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Manatee (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 77.3% overall, from $951 to $1,686. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +18.1% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑6.7% | $1,418 | $1,686 | $1,958 |
| FY 2025 ↑5.2% | $1,266 | $1,580 | $1,846 |
| FY 2024 ↑17.6% | $1,230 | $1,502 | $1,815 |
| FY 2023 ↑18.1% | $1,065 | $1,277 | $1,593 |
| FY 2022 ↑9.0% | $920 | $1,081 | $1,385 |
| FY 2021 ↑4.3% | $841 | $992 | $1,275 |
| FY 2020 | $807 | $951 | $1,220 |
Part of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL Metro Area
Manatee County is a central county of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.
Manatee County ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Sarasota County ($1,686), Manatee County (this county) ($1,686).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Manatee County, both outside Florida 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 FL (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside FL).
Nearby Counties in Florida
Largest counties by population in Florida
Showing the 8 largest of 66 other counties in Florida.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Manatee County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Manatee County is $1,686 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,958 and a studio is $1,418.
How does Manatee County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Manatee County is 76% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,686 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Manatee County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Manatee County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,958 ranks #126 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Manatee County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $67,440 ($5,620/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Manatee County.
Is rent going up or down in Manatee County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Manatee County increased by 6.7% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,580 to $1,686.
Which jobs can afford rent in Manatee 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 $1,686/mo. 5 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Manatee County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Manatee County went from $951 in FY 2020 to $1,686 in FY 2026, a total change of +77.3% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Manatee County?
In Manatee County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,686/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 Manatee County?
For Manatee County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,686/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Manatee County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 16.3%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
What is the unemployment rate in Manatee County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.8% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Manatee'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 $1,686 implies about $67,440/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Florida counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Miami-Dade
- See where Manatee 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.