County FMR · HUD FY2026

Mason County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Mason County, WA - 8% above the US average.

$1,032
1-bedroom FMR
$1,354
2-bedroom FMR
+7.4%
YoY change
+8%
vs US avg

The verdict

Mason is the 18th cheapest of 39 counties in Washington by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #660 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 7.4% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#660
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#18
cheapest of 39 in Washington (2BR)
-13%
vs the state average
$41,280
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (33.6%); 13 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Washington counties range as much as 80% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Mason County, WA. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Mason County, Washington is $1,032 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,354/mo and a studio is $1,030/mo. This is 8% higher than the national average of $959 and 13% below the Washington average of $1,180.

Rent increased7.4% from FY 2025 ($961), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $41,280/year for a 1-bedroom.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Washington. Population: 66,053. Population grew 6.9% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's in line with Washington's statewide growth of +6.1% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area MASON·COUNTY·WA·WA

Mason County, WA: $1,032/mo 1BR · #660 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA WA
  • 1BR-FMR $1,032
  • 2BR-FMR $1,354
  • RANK-MID #660
  • YOY-SURGE +7.4%
  • VSUS-NEAR +8%
  • VS-ST-LOW -13% WA
  • INC-ROOM 16%
  • POP-MID 66K
  • PHOTO-NEAR King County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $929–$1,135
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: King ($1,114 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,082 · US avg: $893
$1,030/mo
↑ 7.9% YoY -5% vs state +15% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,180 · US avg: $959
$1,032/mo
↑ 7.4% YoY -13% vs state +8% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,472 · US avg: $1,175
$1,354/mo
↑ 7.4% YoY -8% vs state +15% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $2,003 · US avg: $1,525
$1,883/mo
↑ 6.6% YoY -6% vs state +23% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,351 · US avg: $1,756
$2,097/mo
↑ 9.4% YoY -11% vs state +19% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $955
$1,030
+$75 (+7.9%)
1 Bedroom $961
$1,032
+$71 (+7.4%)
2 Bedroom $1,261
$1,354
+$93 (+7.4%)
3 Bedroom $1,767
$1,883
+$116 (+6.6%)
4 Bedroom $1,917
$2,097
+$180 (+9.4%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
15.8%
Affordable
Need $41,200/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
15.8%
Affordable
Need $41,280/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.7%
Affordable
Need $54,160/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
28.8%
Affordable
Need $75,320/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
32.1%
Burdened
Need $83,880/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%20.7%
Mason County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $78,359 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Washington rent burden →

Where Mason sits among every US county

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

$1,354 Top 21% higher than 79% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Mason compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Washington counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Mason is highlighted. Nearby Washington counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: King County ($2,146), Snohomish County ($2,146), Thurston County ($1,682), Clark County ($1,677), Pierce County ($1,605), Spokane County ($1,193), Mason County (this county) ($1,032).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,032/mo compares to Washington salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation WA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $166,910 7.4% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $130,240 9.5% Affordable
Registered Nurses $112,180 11% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $102,640 12.1% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $99,110 12.5% Affordable
Electricians $96,530 12.8% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $96,180 12.9% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $78,010 15.9% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $63,760 19.4% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $56,140 22.1% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $49,150 25.2% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $47,210 26.2% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $43,720 28.3% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $38,350 32.3% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $36,820 33.6% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Washington) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Mason (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 20.0% overall, from $860 to $1,032. Rent fell in 3 of the last 6 tracked years, including a 13.7% drop in FY 2022 - an unusual multi-year softening rather than the steady increases seen in most US counties.

$800$850$900$950$1,000$1,050$1,100 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,032
Mason County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑7.4% $1,030 $1,032 $1,354
FY 2025 ↓7.6% $955 $961 $1,261
FY 2024 ↓0.6% $866 $1,040 $1,278
FY 2023 ↑11.5% $790 $1,046 $1,181
FY 2022 ↑13.7% $710 $938 $1,069
FY 2021 ↓4.1% $660 $825 $949
FY 2020 $682 $860 $1,047
Total change (6yr): +20.0%
Annualized: +3.1%/yr
1 BR: $860 → $1,032

Part of the Shelton, WA Micro Area

Mason County is a central county of the Shelton, WA micropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Mason County, both outside Washington 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 WA (FY2026).

McKenzie County
ND · 2 BR $1,354/mo
Hamilton County
OH · 2 BR $1,353/mo
Butler County
OH · 2 BR $1,353/mo
Warren County
OH · 2 BR $1,353/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Knox County
TX · 20.7% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Macon County
TN · 20.7% of income · 2 BR $972/mo
McCormick County
SC · 20.7% of income · 2 BR $956/mo
Carroll County
AR · 20.7% of income · 2 BR $954/mo

Nearby Counties in Washington

Largest counties by population in Washington

Showing the 8 largest of 38 other counties in Washington.

King County
1 BR: $2,146/mo Pop: 2,254,371
Pierce County
1 BR: $1,605/mo Pop: 918,993
Snohomish County
1 BR: $2,146/mo Pop: 828,337
Spokane County
1 BR: $1,193/mo Pop: 538,711
Clark County
1 BR: $1,677/mo Pop: 504,091
Thurston County
1 BR: $1,682/mo Pop: 294,272
Kitsap County
1 BR: $1,548/mo Pop: 275,411
Yakima County
1 BR: $1,047/mo Pop: 256,143
View all counties in Washington →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Mason County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Mason County is $1,032 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,354 and a studio is $1,030.
How does Mason County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Mason County is 8% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,032 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Mason County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Mason County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,354 ranks #660 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Mason County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $41,280 ($3,440/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Mason County.
Is rent going up or down in Mason County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Mason County increased by 7.4% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $961 to $1,032.
Which jobs can afford rent in Mason County? ▼
Based on Washington BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,032/mo. 13 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Mason County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Mason County went from $860 in FY 2020 to $1,032 in FY 2026, a total change of +20.0% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Mason County? ▼
In Mason County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,032/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 Mason County? ▼
For Mason County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,032/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.