County FMR · HUD FY2026
Ouray County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Ouray County, CO - 30% above the US average.
- $1,245
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,526
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +1.2%
- YoY change
- +30%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Ouray is the 22nd most expensive of 64 counties in Colorado by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #440 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #440
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #22
- most expensive of 64 in Colorado (2BR)
- +7%
- vs the state average
- $49,800
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.1%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (47.6%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Ouray County, CO. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Ouray County, Colorado is $1,245 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,526/mo and a studio is $1,170/mo. This is 30% higher than the national average of $959 and 7% above the Colorado average of $1,161.
Rent increased1.2% from FY 2025 ($1,230), roughly tracking inflation. A household needs about $49,800/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
Observed renter burden: 37.3% of the 553 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 8.4%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.0% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Colorado. Population: 4,936. Population grew 6.4% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's in line with Colorado's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area OURAY·COUNTY·CO·CO
Ouray County, CO: $1,245/mo 1BR · #440 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA CO
- 1BR-FMR $1,245
- 2BR-FMR $1,526
- RANK-MID #440
- YOY-FLAT +1.2%
- VSUS-HIGH +30%
- VS-ST-NEAR +7% CO
- INC-ROOM 18%
- POP-SMALL 5K
- PHOTO-NEAR El Paso County
- VOUCH-90-110 $1,121–$1,370
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: El Paso ($219 1BR gap)
Read with: Understanding rent burden
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,222 | $1,170 | $-52 (-4.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,230 | $1,245 | +$15 (+1.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,614 | $1,526 | $-88 (-5.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,213 | $2,122 | $-91 (-4.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,582 | $2,392 | $-190 (-7.4%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Ouray 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 Ouray sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,526 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 Ouray 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
- Ouray
Ouray County
$1,245 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Ouray 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), Ouray County (this county) ($1,245).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,245/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Colorado BLS wages?
| Occupation | CO Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $134,540 | 11.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $130,340 | 11.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $96,520 | 15.5% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $96,100 | 15.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $90,030 | 16.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $73,380 | 20.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $62,090 | 24.1% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,550 | 24.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,260 | 24.8% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $48,070 | 31.1% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,020 | 32.5% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,270 | 40.1% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,960 | 40.4% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $35,440 | 42.2% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $31,390 | 47.6% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Ouray County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Ouray (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 41.5% overall, from $880 to $1,245. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 17.2% (FY 2021), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑1.2% | $1,170 | $1,245 | $1,526 |
| FY 2025 ↓8.8% | $1,222 | $1,230 | $1,614 |
| FY 2024 ↑11.1% | $1,340 | $1,349 | $1,772 |
| FY 2023 ↑3.2% | $1,206 | $1,214 | $1,598 |
| FY 2022 ↑14.1% | $1,169 | $1,176 | $1,548 |
| FY 2021 ↑17.2% | $1,024 | $1,031 | $1,359 |
| FY 2020 | $755 | $880 | $1,159 |
Where Ouray County Ranks in Colorado
Ouray 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 #43 of 64 counties in Colorado. Nearest by rank: Crowley County ($1,289), Gunnison County ($1,334), Archuleta County ($1,337), Lake County ($1,343), Mineral County ($1,343), Chaffee County ($1,466), Grand County ($1,475), Teller County ($1,493), Ouray County (this county) ($1,526), Weld County ($1,563), La Plata County ($1,589), Garfield County ($1,605), San Miguel County ($1,645), Larimer County ($1,732), El Paso County ($1,735), Routt County ($2,022), Adams County ($2,089).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Ouray County, both outside Colorado 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 CO (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside CO).
Nearby Counties in Colorado
Largest counties by population in Colorado
Showing the 8 largest of 63 other counties in Colorado.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Ouray County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Ouray County is $1,245 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,526 and a studio is $1,170.
How does Ouray County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Ouray County is 30% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,245 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Ouray County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Ouray County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,526 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 Ouray County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $49,800 ($4,150/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Ouray County.
Is rent going up or down in Ouray County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Ouray County increased by 1.2% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,230 to $1,245.
Which jobs can afford rent in Ouray County?
Based on Colorado BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,245/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Ouray County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Ouray County went from $880 in FY 2020 to $1,245 in FY 2026, a total change of +41.5% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Ouray County?
In Ouray County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,245/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 Ouray County?
For Ouray County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,245/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Ouray County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 8.4%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in Ouray County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.0% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Ouray'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 $1,245 implies about $49,800/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Colorado counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs El Paso
- See where Ouray 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.