County FMR · HUD FY2026
Natrona County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Natrona County, WY - 11% below the US average.
- $852
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,082
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -1.8%
- YoY change
- -11%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Natrona is the 6th most expensive of 23 counties in Wyoming by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #6
- most expensive of 23 in Wyoming (2BR)
- +3%
- vs the state average
- $34,080
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- -1.8%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (36.3%); 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 Natrona County, WY. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Natrona County, Wyoming is $852 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,082/mo and a studio is $767/mo. This is 11% lower than the national average of $959 and 3% above the Wyoming average of $824.
Rent decreased1.8% from FY 2025 ($868), declining against the trend. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $34,080/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Wyoming. Population: 79,506. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-1.1%, Census ACS). That's in line with Wyoming's statewide growth of -0.4% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Natrona County
The Natrona County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Wyoming'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.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 11% below the US average of $959 and 3% higher than the Wyoming state average of $824. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$868 in FY 2025 to $852 in FY 2026 - a change of -1.8%, which is unusual and suggests softening demand or revised HUD sampling.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $852, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $34,080 per year (about $2,840/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,082 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 79,506 and a county median household income of $71,247, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $755 | $767 | +$12 (+1.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $868 | $852 | $-16 (-1.8%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,062 | $1,082 | +$20 (+1.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,488 | $1,505 | +$17 (+1.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,764 | $1,815 | +$51 (+2.9%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Natrona 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.
Natrona County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Natrona sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,082 higher than 57% 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 Natrona compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Wyoming counties
- Laramie
Laramie County
$917 1BR FMR / mo
- Campbell
Campbell County
$896 1BR FMR / mo
- Sheridan
Sheridan County
$860 1BR FMR / mo
- Sweetwater
Sweetwater County
$854 1BR FMR / mo
- Natrona
Natrona County
$852 1BR FMR / mo
- Albany
Albany County
$786 1BR FMR / mo
- Fremont
Fremont County
$753 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Natrona is highlighted. Nearby Wyoming counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Laramie County ($917), Campbell County ($896), Sheridan County ($860), Sweetwater County ($854), Natrona County (this county) ($852), Albany County ($786), Fremont County ($753).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $852/mo compares to Wyoming salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | WY Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $112,590 | 9.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $94,900 | 10.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $81,790 | 12.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,400 | 13.2% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $73,450 | 13.9% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $65,180 | 15.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,560 | 16.6% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,270 | 17% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $49,980 | 20.5% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $46,490 | 22% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,360 | 26% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,580 | 28.7% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $34,410 | 29.7% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,450 | 32.5% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,200 | 36.3% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Natrona County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Natrona (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 9.2% overall, from $780 to $852. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 19.5% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓1.8% | $767 | $852 | $1,082 |
| FY 2025 ↓2.8% | $755 | $868 | $1,062 |
| FY 2024 ↑19.5% | $759 | $893 | $1,070 |
| FY 2023 ↑2.6% | $619 | $747 | $884 |
| FY 2022 ↓1.2% | $605 | $728 | $856 |
| FY 2021 ↓5.5% | $593 | $737 | $868 |
| FY 2020 | $612 | $780 | $924 |
Part of the Casper, WY Metro Area
Natrona County is a central county of the Casper, WY metropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Wyoming
Largest counties by population in Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Natrona County? ▼
How does Natrona County rent compare to the national average? ▼
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Is rent going up or down in Natrona County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Natrona County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Natrona County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Natrona County? ▼
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What this means for renters
Treat Natrona'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 $852 implies about $34,080/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 Natrona 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.
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.