County FMR · HUD FY2026

Middlesex County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Middlesex County, VA - 10% above the US average.

$1,058
1-bedroom FMR
$1,291
2-bedroom FMR
+9.6%
YoY change
+10%
vs US avg

The verdict

Middlesex is the 59th most expensive of 133 counties in Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #755 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 9.6% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#755
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#59
most expensive of 133 in Virginia (2BR)
-10%
vs the state average
$42,320
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (43.7%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Middlesex County, VA. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Middlesex County, Virginia is $1,058 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,291/mo and a studio is $1,052/mo. This is 10% higher than the national average of $959 and 10% below the Virginia average of $1,182.

Rent increased9.6% from FY 2025 ($965), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $42,320/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 40.2% of the 677 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 Virginia. Population: 10,738. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.7%, Census ACS). That's slower than Virginia's statewide growth of +2.9% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area MIDDLESEX·COUNTY·VA·VA

Middlesex County, VA: $1,058/mo 1BR · #755 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA VA
  • 1BR-FMR $1,058
  • 2BR-FMR $1,291
  • RANK-MID #755
  • YOY-SURGE +9.6%
  • VSUS-ABOVE +10%
  • VS-ST-LOW -10% VA
  • INC-ROOM 17%
  • POP-SMALL 11K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Fairfax County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $952–$1,164
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Fairfax ($957 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,137 · US avg: $893
$1,052/mo
↑ 9.7% YoY -7% vs state +18% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,182 · US avg: $959
$1,058/mo
↑ 9.6% YoY -10% vs state +10% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,369 · US avg: $1,175
$1,291/mo
↑ 8.3% YoY -6% vs state +10% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,789 · US avg: $1,525
$1,548/mo
↑ 7.8% YoY -13% vs state +2% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,128 · US avg: $1,756
$2,018/mo
↑ 8.3% YoY -5% vs state +15% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $959
$1,052
+$93 (+9.7%)
1 Bedroom $965
$1,058
+$93 (+9.6%)
2 Bedroom $1,192
$1,291
+$99 (+8.3%)
3 Bedroom $1,436
$1,548
+$112 (+7.8%)
4 Bedroom $1,864
$2,018
+$154 (+8.3%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
17%
Affordable
Need $42,080/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
17.1%
Affordable
Need $42,320/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.9%
Affordable
Need $51,640/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
25.1%
Affordable
Need $61,920/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
32.7%
Burdened
Need $80,720/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%20.9%
Middlesex County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $74,154 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Virginia rent burden →

Where Middlesex sits among every US county

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

$1,291 Top 24% higher than 76% 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 Middlesex compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Virginia counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Middlesex is highlighted. Nearby Virginia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fairfax County ($2,015), Prince William County ($2,015), Loudoun County ($2,015), Virginia Beach city ($1,512), Chesterfield County ($1,507), Henrico County ($1,507), Middlesex County (this county) ($1,058).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,058/mo compares to Virginia salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation VA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $134,470 9.4% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $121,530 10.4% Affordable
Registered Nurses $88,820 14.3% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $84,190 15.1% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $65,110 19.5% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $62,270 20.4% Affordable
Electricians $61,610 20.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $61,200 20.7% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $54,500 23.3% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $42,490 29.9% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,210 32.4% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $36,650 34.6% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $33,970 37.4% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $32,760 38.8% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $29,060 43.7% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Virginia) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Middlesex (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 43.8% overall, from $736 to $1,058. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.9% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$700$800$900$1,000$1,100 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,058
Middlesex County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑9.6% $1,052 $1,058 $1,291
FY 2025 ↑5.5% $959 $965 $1,192
FY 2024 ↑14.9% $909 $915 $1,202
FY 2023 ↑9.9% $777 $796 $1,048
FY 2022 ↓0.4% $621 $724 $910
FY 2021 ↓1.2% $617 $727 $917
FY 2020 $654 $736 $969
Total change (6yr): +43.8%
Annualized: +6.2%/yr
1 BR: $736 → $1,058

Where Middlesex County Ranks in Virginia

Middlesex 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 #75 of 133 counties in Virginia. Nearest by rank: Roanoke County ($1,254), Roanoke city ($1,254), Salem city ($1,254), Augusta County ($1,261), Staunton city ($1,261), Waynesboro city ($1,261), Montgomery County ($1,271), Radford city ($1,271), Middlesex County (this county) ($1,291), Northumberland County ($1,309), Warren County ($1,315), Harrisonburg city ($1,322), Rockingham County ($1,322), Rappahannock County ($1,375), Culpeper County ($1,423), King George County ($1,469), Frederick County ($1,573).

Roanoke County
2 BR: $1,254/mo
Roanoke city
2 BR: $1,254/mo
Salem city
2 BR: $1,254/mo
Augusta County
2 BR: $1,261/mo
Staunton city
2 BR: $1,261/mo
Waynesboro city
2 BR: $1,261/mo
Montgomery County
2 BR: $1,271/mo
Radford city
2 BR: $1,271/mo
Middlesex County (this county)
2 BR: $1,291/mo
Northumberland County
2 BR: $1,309/mo
Warren County
2 BR: $1,315/mo
Harrisonburg city
2 BR: $1,322/mo
Rockingham County
2 BR: $1,322/mo
Rappahannock County
2 BR: $1,375/mo
Culpeper County
2 BR: $1,423/mo
King George County
2 BR: $1,469/mo
Frederick County
2 BR: $1,573/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Middlesex County, both outside Virginia 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 VA (FY2026).

St. Joseph County
IN · 2 BR $1,292/mo
Glynn County
GA · 2 BR $1,293/mo
Brantley County
GA · 2 BR $1,293/mo
McIntosh County
GA · 2 BR $1,293/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Portage County
OH · 20.9% of income · 2 BR $1,268/mo
Rusk County
TX · 20.9% of income · 2 BR $1,175/mo
Sandoval County
NM · 20.9% of income · 2 BR $1,464/mo
Sampson County
NC · 20.9% of income · 2 BR $925/mo

Nearby Counties in Virginia

Largest counties by population in Virginia

Showing the 8 largest of 132 other counties in Virginia.

Fairfax County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 1,145,354
Prince William County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 481,114
Virginia Beach city
1 BR: $1,512/mo Pop: 457,900
Loudoun County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 420,773
Chesterfield County
1 BR: $1,507/mo Pop: 366,019
Henrico County
1 BR: $1,507/mo Pop: 333,120
Chesapeake city
1 BR: $1,512/mo Pop: 249,377
Norfolk city
1 BR: $1,512/mo Pop: 236,973
View all counties in Virginia →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Middlesex County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Middlesex County is $1,058 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,291 and a studio is $1,052.
How does Middlesex County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Middlesex County is 10% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,058 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Middlesex County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Middlesex County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,291 ranks #755 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 Middlesex County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $42,320 ($3,527/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Middlesex County.
Is rent going up or down in Middlesex County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Middlesex County increased by 9.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $965 to $1,058.
Which jobs can afford rent in Middlesex County? ▼
Based on Virginia BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,058/mo. 10 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Middlesex County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Middlesex County went from $736 in FY 2020 to $1,058 in FY 2026, a total change of +43.8% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Middlesex County? ▼
In Middlesex County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,058/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 Middlesex County? ▼
For Middlesex County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,058/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.