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.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 14.0%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.4% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
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)
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.
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 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
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
- Fairfax
Fairfax County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Prince William
Prince William County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Loudoun
Loudoun County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Virginia Beach city
Virginia Beach city
$1,512 1BR FMR / mo
- Chesterfield
Chesterfield County
$1,507 1BR FMR / mo
- Henrico
Henrico County
$1,507 1BR FMR / mo
- Middlesex
Middlesex County
$1,058 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).
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 |
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.
| 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 |
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).
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).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside VA).
Nearby Counties in Virginia
Largest counties by population in Virginia
Showing the 8 largest of 132 other 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).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Middlesex County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 14.0%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
What is the unemployment rate in Middlesex County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.4% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Middlesex's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,058 implies about $42,320/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Virginia counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Fairfax
- See where Middlesex ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.