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.

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)

Studio
State avg: $1,212 · US avg: $893
$1,418/mo
↑ 12.0% YoY +17% vs state +59% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,296 · US avg: $959
$1,686/mo
↑ 6.7% YoY +30% vs state +76% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,526 · US avg: $1,175
$1,958/mo
↑ 6.1% YoY +28% vs state +67% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,971 · US avg: $1,525
$2,537/mo
↑ 4.6% YoY +29% vs state +66% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,261 · US avg: $1,756
$3,027/mo
↑ 4.3% YoY +34% vs state +72% vs US

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.

Studio
22.5%
Affordable
Need $56,720/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
26.7%
Affordable
Need $67,440/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
31%
Burdened
Need $78,320/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
40.2%
Burdened
Need $101,480/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
47.9%
Burdened
Need $121,080/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%31%
Manatee County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $75,792 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Florida rent burden →

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

$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%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Below this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Manatee compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Florida counties

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).

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

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
Salaries: BLS OES (Florida) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

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.

$800$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600$1,800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,686
Manatee County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
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
Total change (6yr): +77.3%
Annualized: +10.0%/yr
1 BR: $951 → $1,686

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).

Sarasota County
1 BR: $1,686/mo
Manatee County (this county)
1 BR: $1,686/mo

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).

Thurston County
WA · 2 BR $1,960/mo
Mercer County
NJ · 2 BR $1,950/mo
South Central Connecticut Planning Region
CT · 2 BR $1,969/mo
Pierce County
WA · 2 BR $1,971/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Piute County
UT · 31% of income · 2 BR $1,153/mo
Hinds County
MS · 30.9% of income · 2 BR $1,288/mo
Terrell County
GA · 30.9% of income · 2 BR $1,129/mo
Bibb County
GA · 30.9% of income · 2 BR $1,307/mo

Nearby Counties in Florida

Largest counties by population in Florida

Showing the 8 largest of 66 other counties in Florida.

Miami-Dade County
1 BR: $1,995/mo Pop: 2,688,237
Broward County
1 BR: $1,900/mo Pop: 1,940,907
Palm Beach County
1 BR: $1,901/mo Pop: 1,494,805
Hillsborough County
1 BR: $1,696/mo Pop: 1,468,560
Orange County
1 BR: $1,731/mo Pop: 1,427,403
Duval County
1 BR: $1,382/mo Pop: 995,708
Pinellas County
1 BR: $1,696/mo Pop: 959,918
Lee County
1 BR: $1,638/mo Pop: 772,902
View all 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).

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.