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.
- #22
- most expensive of 64 in Colorado (2BR)
- +7%
- vs the state average
- $49,800
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +1.2%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
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. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $49,800/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
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.
What these rents mean for Ouray County
The Ouray 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 30% above the US average of $959 and 7% higher than the Colorado state average of $1,161. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$1,230 in FY 2025 to $1,245 in FY 2026 - a change of +1.2%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,245, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $49,800 per year (about $4,150/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,526 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 4,936 and a county median household income of $84,556, 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 | $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%) |
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 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.
Ouray County 2-bedroom rent burden
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?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,245/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 | 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).
Nearby Counties in Colorado
Largest counties by population in Colorado
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Ouray County? ▼
How does Ouray County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Ouray County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Ouray County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Ouray County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Ouray County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Ouray County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Ouray County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Ouray'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 $1,245 implies about $49,800/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 Ouray 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.