County FMR · HUD FY2026
McPherson County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for McPherson County, NE - 22% below the US average.
- $747
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $980
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +8.1%
- YoY change
- -22%
- vs US avg
The verdict
McPherson is the 26th most expensive of 93 counties in Nebraska by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,322 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 8.1% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #1,322
- most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #26
- most expensive of 93 in Nebraska (2BR)
- -6%
- vs the state average
- $29,880
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.7%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (32.2%); 13 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 McPherson County, NE. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in McPherson County, Nebraska is $747 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $980/mo and a studio is $680/mo. This is 22% lower than the national average of $959 and 6% below the Nebraska average of $791.
Rent increased8.1% from FY 2025 ($691), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $29,880/year.
Observed renter burden: 0.0% of the 53 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 Nebraska. Population: 456.
FMR filing desk
Area MCPHERSON·COUNTY·NE·NE
McPherson County, NE: $747/mo 1BR · #1322 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA NE
- 1BR-FMR $747
- 2BR-FMR $980
- RANK-MID #1,322
- YOY-SURGE +8.1%
- VSUS-BELOW -22%
- VS-ST-NEAR -6% NE
- INC-ROOM 15%
- POP-SMALL 456
- PHOTO-NEAR Douglas County
- VOUCH-90-110 $672–$822
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Douglas ($401 1BR gap)
Read with: Section 8 housing guide
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $622 | $680 | +$58 (+9.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $691 | $747 | +$56 (+8.1%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $907 | $980 | +$73 (+8.0%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,129 | $1,210 | +$81 (+7.2%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,204 | $1,309 | +$105 (+8.7%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in McPherson 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 McPherson sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$980 higher than 42% 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 McPherson compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Nebraska counties
- Douglas
Douglas County
$1,148 1BR FMR / mo
- Sarpy
Sarpy County
$1,148 1BR FMR / mo
- Hall
Hall County
$978 1BR FMR / mo
- Lancaster
Lancaster County
$926 1BR FMR / mo
- Buffalo
Buffalo County
$863 1BR FMR / mo
- Dodge
Dodge County
$861 1BR FMR / mo
- McPherson
McPherson County
$747 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows McPherson is highlighted. Nearby Nebraska counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Douglas County ($1,148), Sarpy County ($1,148), Hall County ($978), Lancaster County ($926), Buffalo County ($863), Dodge County ($861), McPherson County (this county) ($747).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
With a below-average 1-bedroom at $747/mo, most of these Nebraska occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.
| Occupation | NE Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $116,420 | 7.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $82,570 | 10.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $81,020 | 11.1% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $72,160 | 12.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $69,980 | 12.8% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,700 | 14.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,410 | 14.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $60,020 | 14.9% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,940 | 15.5% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $41,400 | 21.7% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $40,790 | 22% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,820 | 25% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,350 | 29.5% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,420 | 30.5% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $27,840 | 32.2% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for McPherson County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for McPherson (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 40.9% overall, from $530 to $747. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.8% (FY 2023).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑8.1% | $680 | $747 | $980 |
| FY 2025 ↑3.8% | $622 | $691 | $907 |
| FY 2024 ↑4.6% | $593 | $666 | $875 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.8% | $570 | $637 | $838 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.5% | $507 | $575 | $757 |
| FY 2021 ↑5.8% | $488 | $561 | $739 |
| FY 2020 | $455 | $530 | $698 |
Where McPherson County Ranks in Nebraska
McPherson 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 #68 of 93 counties in Nebraska. Nearest by rank: Thayer County ($961), Thomas County ($961), Thurston County ($961), Valley County ($961), Wayne County ($961), Webster County ($961), Wheeler County ($961), Seward County ($967), McPherson County (this county) ($980), Johnson County ($982), Scotts Bluff County ($987), Madison County ($992), Kearney County ($993), Dawson County ($995), York County ($1,005), Cherry County ($1,024), Otoe County ($1,028).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for McPherson County, both outside Nebraska 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 NE (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside NE).
Nearby Counties in Nebraska
Largest counties by population in Nebraska
Showing the 8 largest of 92 other counties in Nebraska.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in McPherson County? ▼
How does McPherson County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does McPherson County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in McPherson County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in McPherson County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in McPherson County? ▼
How much has rent changed in McPherson County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in McPherson County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for McPherson County? ▼
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.
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.