County FMR · HUD FY2026
Otero County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Otero County, CO - 23% below the US average.
- $742
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $973
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +4.4%
- YoY change
- -23%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Otero is the 4th cheapest of 64 counties in Colorado by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #4
- cheapest of 64 in Colorado (2BR)
- -36%
- vs the state average
- $29,680
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +4.4%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (6.6%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (28.4%); 15 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 Otero County, CO. Verify with HUD →
Otero County, Colorado carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $742 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $973/mo and a studio is $737/mo. That's 23% below the national benchmark of $959 and 36% below the Colorado average of $1,161.
Rent increased4.4% from FY 2025 ($711), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $29,680/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Colorado. Population: 18,580. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.7%, Census ACS). That's slower than Colorado's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Otero County
The Otero County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Colorado'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 23% below the US average of $959 and 36% lower than the Colorado state average of $1,161. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$711 in FY 2025 to $742 in FY 2026 - a change of +4.4%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $742, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $29,680 per year (about $2,473/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $973 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 18,580 and a county median household income of $54,897, 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 | $707 | $737 | +$30 (+4.2%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $711 | $742 | +$31 (+4.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $933 | $973 | +$40 (+4.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,297 | $1,303 | +$6 (+0.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,567 | $1,632 | +$65 (+4.1%) |
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 Otero 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.
Otero County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Otero sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$973 higher than 31% 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 Otero compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Colorado counties
- Denver
Denver County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Arapahoe
Arapahoe County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Jefferson
Jefferson County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Adams
Adams County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Douglas
Douglas County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- El Paso
El Paso County
$1,464 1BR FMR / mo
- Otero
Otero County
$742 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Otero is highlighted. Nearby Colorado counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Denver County ($1,754), Arapahoe County ($1,754), Jefferson County ($1,754), Adams County ($1,754), Douglas County ($1,754), El Paso County ($1,464), Otero County (this county) ($742).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $742/mo compares to Colorado salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | CO Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $134,540 | 6.6% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $130,340 | 6.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $96,520 | 9.2% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $96,100 | 9.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $90,030 | 9.9% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $73,380 | 12.1% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $62,090 | 14.3% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,550 | 14.5% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,260 | 14.8% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $48,070 | 18.5% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,020 | 19.3% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,270 | 23.9% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,960 | 24.1% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $35,440 | 25.1% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $31,390 | 28.4% | Affordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Otero County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Otero (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 29.3% overall, from $574 to $742. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 13.3% (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 ↑4.4% | $737 | $742 | $973 |
| FY 2025 ↓8.1% | $707 | $711 | $933 |
| FY 2024 ↑13.3% | $769 | $774 | $1,017 |
| FY 2023 ↓3.5% | $678 | $683 | $899 |
| FY 2022 ↑12.2% | $703 | $708 | $931 |
| FY 2021 ↑9.9% | $627 | $631 | $832 |
| FY 2020 | $570 | $574 | $756 |
Where Otero County Ranks in Colorado
Otero 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 #4 of 64 counties in Colorado. Nearest by rank: Baca County ($973), Conejos County ($973), Costilla County ($973), Otero County (this county) ($973), Prowers County ($973), Sedgwick County ($973), Saguache County ($975), Jackson County ($989), Alamosa County ($999), Rio Blanco County ($1,009), Huerfano County ($1,013), Lincoln County ($1,016).
Nearby Counties in Colorado
Largest counties by population in Colorado
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Otero County? ▼
How does Otero County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Otero County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Otero County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Otero County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Otero County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Otero County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Otero County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Otero'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 $742 implies about $29,680/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 Otero 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.