County FMR · HUD FY2026
Monroe County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Monroe County, PA - 21% above the US average.
- $1,165
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,529
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -1.5%
- YoY change
- +21%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Monroe is the 10th most expensive of 67 counties in Pennsylvania by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #440 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #440
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #10
- most expensive of 67 in Pennsylvania (2BR)
- +17%
- vs the state average
- $46,600
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (49.1%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Monroe County, PA. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Monroe County, Pennsylvania is $1,165 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,529/mo and a studio is $1,085/mo. This is 21% higher than the national average of $959 and 17% above the Pennsylvania average of $996.
Rent decreased1.5% from FY 2025 ($1,183), declining against the trend. A household needs about $46,600/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
Observed renter burden: 49.6% of the 12,398 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 3.8%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.9% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Pennsylvania. Population: 168,128. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.1%, Census ACS). That's in line with Pennsylvania's statewide growth of +1.5% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area MONROE·COUNTY·PA·PA
Monroe County, PA: $1,165/mo 1BR · #440 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA PA
- 1BR-FMR $1,165
- 2BR-FMR $1,529
- RANK-MID #440
- YOY-FLAT -1.5%
- VSUS-ABOVE +21%
- VS-ST-HIGH +17% PA
- INC-ROOM 17%
- POP-MID 168K
- PHOTO-NEAR Philadelphia Count
- VOUCH-90-110 $1,049–$1,282
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Philadelphia ($355 1BR gap)
Read with: Understanding rent burden
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,158 | $1,085 | $-73 (-6.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,183 | $1,165 | $-18 (-1.5%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,552 | $1,529 | $-23 (-1.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,043 | $1,974 | $-69 (-3.4%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,379 | $2,203 | $-176 (-7.4%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Monroe 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 Monroe sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,529 Top 14% higher than 86% 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 Monroe compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Pennsylvania counties
- Philadelphia
Philadelphia County
$1,520 1BR FMR / mo
- Montgomery
Montgomery County
$1,520 1BR FMR / mo
- Bucks
Bucks County
$1,520 1BR FMR / mo
- Delaware
Delaware County
$1,520 1BR FMR / mo
- Lancaster
Lancaster County
$1,220 1BR FMR / mo
- Monroe
Monroe County
$1,165 1BR FMR / mo
- Allegheny
Allegheny County
$1,077 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Monroe is highlighted. Nearby Pennsylvania counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Philadelphia County ($1,520), Montgomery County ($1,520), Bucks County ($1,520), Delaware County ($1,520), Lancaster County ($1,220), Monroe County (this county) ($1,165), Allegheny County ($1,077).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,165/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Pennsylvania BLS wages?
| Occupation | PA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $123,740 | 11.3% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $100,400 | 13.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $87,610 | 16% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $86,350 | 16.2% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,330 | 18.1% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $74,160 | 18.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $65,400 | 21.4% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $60,950 | 22.9% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,540 | 23.9% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,080 | 32.5% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,560 | 37.2% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,670 | 39.2% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,550 | 45.8% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,410 | 46% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,490 | 49.1% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Monroe County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Monroe (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 40.5% overall, from $829 to $1,165. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +13.4% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓1.5% | $1,085 | $1,165 | $1,529 |
| FY 2025 ↑5.7% | $1,158 | $1,183 | $1,552 |
| FY 2024 ↑12.7% | $1,111 | $1,119 | $1,470 |
| FY 2023 ↑13.4% | $986 | $993 | $1,307 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.9% | $871 | $876 | $1,153 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.7% | $824 | $851 | $1,097 |
| FY 2020 | $723 | $829 | $1,050 |
Part of the East Stroudsburg, PA Micro Area
Monroe County is a central county of the East Stroudsburg, PA micropolitan statistical area.
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Monroe County, both outside Pennsylvania 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 PA (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside PA).
Nearby Counties in Pennsylvania
Largest counties by population in Pennsylvania
Showing the 8 largest of 66 other counties in Pennsylvania.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Monroe County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Monroe County is $1,165 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,529 and a studio is $1,085.
How does Monroe County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Monroe County is 21% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,165 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Monroe County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Monroe County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,529 ranks #440 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 Monroe County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $46,600 ($3,883/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Monroe County.
Is rent going up or down in Monroe County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Monroe County decreased by 1.5% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,183 to $1,165.
Which jobs can afford rent in Monroe County?
Based on Pennsylvania BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,165/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Monroe County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Monroe County went from $829 in FY 2020 to $1,165 in FY 2026, a total change of +40.5% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Monroe County?
In Monroe County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,165/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 Monroe County?
For Monroe County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,165/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Monroe County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 3.8%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
What is the unemployment rate in Monroe County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.9% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Monroe'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 $1,165 implies about $46,600/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Pennsylvania counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Philadelphia
- See where Monroe 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.