County FMR · HUD FY2026

Matagorda County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Matagorda County, TX - 0% above the US average.

$960
1-bedroom FMR
$1,173
2-bedroom FMR
+10.7%
YoY change
+0%
vs US avg

The verdict

Matagorda is the 73rd most expensive of 254 counties in Texas by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 10.7% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#73
most expensive of 254 in Texas (2BR)
+3%
vs the state average
$38,400
income to afford it (30% rule)
+10.7%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (42.7%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Matagorda County, TX. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Matagorda County, Texas at $960 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,173/mo and a studio is $912/mo. This is 0% higher than the national average of $959 and 3% above the Texas average of $935.

Rent increased10.7% from FY 2025 ($867), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $38,400/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Texas. Population: 36,251. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-1.3%, Census ACS). That's slower than Texas's statewide growth of +6.3% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Matagorda County

The Matagorda County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Texas's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.

Matagorda County's 1-bedroom rent runs 0% above the US average of $959 and 3% higher than the Texas state average of $935. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$867 in FY 2025 to $960 in FY 2026 - a change of +10.7%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $960, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $38,400 per year (about $3,200/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,173 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 36,251 and a county median household income of $55,174, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $887 · US avg: $893
$912/mo
↑ 5.7% YoY +3% vs state +2% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $935 · US avg: $959
$960/mo
↑ 10.7% YoY +3% vs state +0% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,149 · US avg: $1,175
$1,173/mo
↑ 6.6% YoY +2% vs state -0% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,497 · US avg: $1,525
$1,498/mo
↑ 9.2% YoY +0% vs state -2% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,733 · US avg: $1,756
$1,911/mo
↑ 5.5% YoY +10% vs state +9% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $863
$912
+$49 (+5.7%)
1 Bedroom $867
$960
+$93 (+10.7%)
2 Bedroom $1,100
$1,173
+$73 (+6.6%)
3 Bedroom $1,372
$1,498
+$126 (+9.2%)
4 Bedroom $1,812
$1,911
+$99 (+5.5%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$38,400
$3,200/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$46,920
$3,910/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
19.8%
Affordable
Need $36,480/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
20.9%
Affordable
Need $38,400/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
25.5%
Affordable
Need $46,920/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
32.6%
Burdened
Need $59,920/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
41.6%
Burdened
Need $76,440/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.

Matagorda County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%25.5%
Matagorda County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $55,174 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Texas rent burden →

Where Matagorda sits among every US county

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

$1,173 Top 34% higher than 66% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $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 Matagorda compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Texas counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Matagorda is highlighted. Nearby Texas counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Dallas County ($1,648), Collin County ($1,648), Travis County ($1,562), Tarrant County ($1,473), Harris County ($1,323), Bexar County ($1,177), Matagorda County (this county) ($960).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $960/mo compares to Texas salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation TX Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $130,500 8.8% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $100,290 11.5% Affordable
Registered Nurses $90,010 12.8% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $80,000 14.4% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $76,350 15.1% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $61,380 18.8% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $59,700 19.3% Affordable
Electricians $56,920 20.2% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $53,070 21.7% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $43,920 26.2% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,100 29.5% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $31,230 36.9% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $30,130 38.2% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $27,630 41.7% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $27,000 42.7% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Texas) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Matagorda (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 57.6% overall, from $609 to $960. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.2% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$500$600$700$800$900$1,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $960
Matagorda County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑10.7% $912 $960 $1,173
FY 2025 ↓0.8% $863 $867 $1,100
FY 2024 ↑14.2% $868 $874 $1,148
FY 2023 ↑13.3% $760 $765 $1,007
FY 2022 ↑7.7% $670 $675 $888
FY 2021 ↑3.0% $623 $627 $808
FY 2020 $605 $609 $742
Total change (6yr): +57.6%
Annualized: +7.9%/yr
1 BR: $609 → $960

Part of the Bay City, TX Micro Area

Matagorda County is a central county of the Bay City, TX micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in Texas

Largest counties by population in Texas

Harris County
1 BR: $1,323/mo Pop: 4,726,177
Dallas County
1 BR: $1,648/mo Pop: 2,604,053
Tarrant County
1 BR: $1,473/mo Pop: 2,113,854
Bexar County
1 BR: $1,177/mo Pop: 2,014,059
Travis County
1 BR: $1,562/mo Pop: 1,289,054
Collin County
1 BR: $1,648/mo Pop: 1,079,153
Denton County
1 BR: $1,648/mo Pop: 914,870
Hidalgo County
1 BR: $847/mo Pop: 873,167
View all counties in Texas →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Matagorda County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Matagorda County is $960 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,173 and a studio is $912.
How does Matagorda County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Matagorda County is 0% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $960 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Matagorda County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $38,400 ($3,200/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Matagorda County.
Is rent going up or down in Matagorda County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Matagorda County increased by 10.7% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $867 to $960.
Which jobs can afford rent in Matagorda County? ▼
Based on Texas BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $960/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Matagorda County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Matagorda County went from $609 in FY 2020 to $960 in FY 2026, a total change of +57.6% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Matagorda County? ▼
In Matagorda County, the FY 2026 FMR of $960/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 Matagorda County? ▼
For Matagorda County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($960/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Matagorda's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.

  • Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $960 implies about $38,400/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
  • Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
  • See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings

Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Matagorda can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.

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.