County FMR · HUD FY2026

Navajo County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Navajo County, AZ - 7% above the US average.

Compiled by PlainRent Editorial, Fair Market Rent Editorial Team · May 15, 2026

$1,026
1-bedroom FMR: $1,309
2-bedroom FMR: -2.7%
YoY change: +7%
vs US avg

The verdict

Navajo is the 7th cheapest of 15 counties in Arizona by 2-bedroom FMR.

#7
cheapest of 15 in Arizona (2BR): -11%
vs the state average: $41,040
income to afford it (30% rule): -2.7%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (37.2%); nearby Arizona counties range as much as 50% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Navajo County, AZ. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Navajo County, Arizona is $1,026 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,309/mo and a studio is $937/mo. This is 7% higher than the national average of $959 and 11% below the Arizona average of $1,151.

Rent decreased2.7% from FY 2025 ($1,055), declining against the trend. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $41,040/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Arizona. Population: 107,110. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.9%, Census ACS). That's slower than Arizona's statewide growth of +4.6% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Navajo County

The Navajo County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Arizona'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 7% above the US average of $959 and 11% lower than the Arizona state average of $1,151. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$1,055 in FY 2025 to $1,026 in FY 2026 - a change of -2.7%, which is unusual and suggests softening demand or revised HUD sampling.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,026, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $41,040 per year (about $3,420/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,309 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 107,110 and a county median household income of $52,752, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio

State avg: $1,053 · US avg: $893

$937/mo

↓ 6.2% YoY -11% vs state +5% vs US

1 Bedroom

State avg: $1,151 · US avg: $959

$1,026/mo

↓ 2.7% YoY -11% vs state +7% vs US

2 Bedroom

State avg: $1,419 · US avg: $1,175

$1,309/mo

↓ 5.4% YoY -8% vs state +11% vs US

3 Bedroom

State avg: $1,889 · US avg: $1,525

$1,622/mo

↓ 5.2% YoY -14% vs state +6% vs US

4 Bedroom

State avg: $2,158 · US avg: $1,756

$1,733/mo

↓ 5.6% YoY -20% vs state -1% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms	FY 2025	FY 2026	Change	vs State	vs US
Studio	$999	$937	$-62 (-6.2%)	-11%	+5%
1 Bedroom	$1,055	$1,026	$-29 (-2.7%)	-11%	+7%
2 Bedroom	$1,384	$1,309	$-75 (-5.4%)	-8%	+11%
3 Bedroom	$1,711	$1,622	$-89 (-5.2%)	-14%	+6%
4 Bedroom	$1,835	$1,733	$-102 (-5.6%)	-20%	-1%

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR

$41,040

$3,420/month gross

Required annual income for 2 BR

$52,360

$4,363/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio

21.3%

Affordable

Need $37,480/yr for 30% rule

1 Bedroom

23.3%

Affordable

Need $41,040/yr for 30% rule

2 Bedroom

29.8%

Affordable

Need $52,360/yr for 30% rule

3 Bedroom

36.9%

Burdened

Need $64,880/yr for 30% rule

4 Bedroom

39.4%

Burdened

Need $69,320/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.

Navajo County 2-bedroom rent burden

County median income: $52,752 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Arizona rent burden →

Where Navajo sits among every US county

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

$1,309 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

Maricopa

$1,583
Pinal

$1,583
Yavapai

$1,309
Pima

$1,081
Mohave

$1,060
Yuma

$1,053
Navajo

$1,026

What this shows Navajo is highlighted. Nearby Arizona counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Maricopa County ($1,583), Pinal County ($1,583), Yavapai County ($1,309), Pima County ($1,081), Mohave County ($1,060), Yuma County ($1,053), Navajo County (this county) ($1,026).

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,026/mo compares to Arizona salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation	AZ Salary	Rent Burden	Verdict
Software Developers	$128,690	9.6%	Affordable
Registered Nurses	$96,890	12.7%	Affordable
General & Operations Managers	$90,000	13.7%	Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$79,370	15.5%	Affordable
Accountants & Auditors	$78,620	15.7%	Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants	$61,220	20.1%	Affordable
Electricians	$59,480	20.7%	Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	$53,690	22.9%	Affordable
Elementary School Teachers	$50,980	24.2%	Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians	$47,620	25.9%	Affordable
Customer Service Representatives	$43,440	28.3%	Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners	$36,140	34.1%	Stretched
Retail Salespersons	$35,320	34.9%	Stretched
Teaching Assistants	$34,550	35.6%	Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers	$33,060	37.2%	Stretched

Salaries: BLS OES (Arizona) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Navajo (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 66.0% overall, from $618 to $1,026. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.4% in FY 2025, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

Navajo County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026

Year	Studio	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
FY 2026 ↓2.7%	$937	$1,026	$1,309	$1,622	$1,733
FY 2025 ↑16.4%	$999	$1,055	$1,384	$1,711	$1,835
FY 2024 ↑15.0%	$856	$906	$1,190	$1,509	$1,585
FY 2023 ↑10.2%	$722	$788	$1,037	$1,336	$1,393
FY 2022 ↑6.7%	$633	$715	$941	$1,237	$1,307
FY 2021 ↑8.4%	$587	$670	$883	$1,187	$1,225
FY 2020	$585	$618	$802	$1,087	$1,162

Total change (6yr): +66.0%

Annualized: +8.8%/yr

1 BR: $618 → $1,026

Part of the Show Low, AZ Micro Area

Navajo County is a central county of the Show Low, AZ micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in Arizona

Largest counties by population in Arizona

Maricopa County

1 BR: $1,583/mo Pop: 4,430,871

Pima County

1 BR: $1,081/mo Pop: 1,042,393

Pinal County

1 BR: $1,583/mo Pop: 433,338

Yavapai County

1 BR: $1,309/mo Pop: 237,830

Mohave County

1 BR: $1,060/mo Pop: 214,229

Yuma County

1 BR: $1,053/mo Pop: 204,374

Coconino County

1 BR: $1,727/mo Pop: 144,705

Cochise County

1 BR: $1,111/mo Pop: 125,504

View all counties in Arizona →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Navajo County? ▼

The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Navajo County is $1,026 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,309 and a studio is $937.

How does Navajo County rent compare to the national average? ▼

Rent in Navajo County is 7% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,026 compared to $959 nationally.

What income do I need to afford rent in Navajo County? ▼

Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $41,040 ($3,420/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Navajo County.

Is rent going up or down in Navajo County? ▼

The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Navajo County decreased by 2.7% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,055 to $1,026.

Which jobs can afford rent in Navajo County? ▼

Based on Arizona BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,026/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.

How much has rent changed in Navajo County over time? ▼

The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Navajo County went from $618 in FY 2020 to $1,026 in FY 2026, a total change of +66.0% over 6 years.

How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Navajo County? ▼

In Navajo County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,026/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 Navajo County? ▼

For Navajo County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,026/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Navajo'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 $1,026 implies about $41,040/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 Navajo 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.

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.