County FMR · HUD FY2026
Pickens County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Pickens County, GA - 73% above the US average.
- $1,660
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,820
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +0.4%
- YoY change
- +73%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Pickens is the 5th most expensive of 159 counties in Georgia by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #5
- most expensive of 159 in Georgia (2BR)
- +62%
- vs the state average
- $66,400
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +0.4%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (15.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (75.7%); only 4 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 Pickens County, GA. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Pickens County, Georgia is $1,660 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,820/mo and a studio is $1,585/mo. This is 73% higher than the national average of $959 and 62% above the Georgia average of $1,023.
Rent increased0.4% from FY 2025 ($1,653), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $66,400/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Georgia. Population: 33,439. Population grew 10.9% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Georgia's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Pickens County
The Pickens County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Georgia'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 73% above the US average of $959 and 62% higher than the Georgia state average of $1,023. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$1,653 in FY 2025 to $1,660 in FY 2026 - a change of +0.4%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,660, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $66,400 per year (about $5,533/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,820 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 33,439 and a county median household income of $75,293, 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 | $1,591 | $1,585 | $-6 (-0.4%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,653 | $1,660 | +$7 (+0.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,830 | $1,820 | $-10 (-0.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,205 | $2,182 | $-23 (-1.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,653 | $2,605 | $-48 (-1.8%) |
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 Pickens 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.
Pickens County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Pickens sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,820 Top 7% higher than 93% 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 Pickens compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Georgia counties
- Pickens
Pickens County
$1,660 1BR FMR / mo
- Fulton
Fulton County
$1,660 1BR FMR / mo
- Gwinnett
Gwinnett County
$1,660 1BR FMR / mo
- Cobb
Cobb County
$1,660 1BR FMR / mo
- DeKalb
DeKalb County
$1,660 1BR FMR / mo
- Clayton
Clayton County
$1,660 1BR FMR / mo
- Chatham
Chatham County
$1,533 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Pickens is highlighted. Nearby Georgia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Pickens County (this county) ($1,660), Fulton County ($1,660), Gwinnett County ($1,660), Cobb County ($1,660), DeKalb County ($1,660), Clayton County ($1,660), Chatham County ($1,533).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,660/mo compares to Georgia salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | GA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $128,920 | 15.5% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $99,800 | 20% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $86,560 | 23% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $80,100 | 24.9% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $63,490 | 31.4% | Stretched |
| Electricians | $58,860 | 33.8% | Stretched |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,570 | 35.2% | Stretched |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $56,350 | 35.4% | Stretched |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $55,120 | 36.1% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,030 | 51% | Unaffordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $38,390 | 51.9% | Unaffordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $33,130 | 60.1% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,770 | 66.9% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $27,860 | 71.5% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $26,310 | 75.7% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Pickens County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Pickens (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 62.0% overall, from $1,025 to $1,660. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 21.6% (FY 2023), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑0.4% | $1,585 | $1,660 | $1,820 |
| FY 2025 ↑0.6% | $1,591 | $1,653 | $1,830 |
| FY 2024 ↑19.5% | $1,599 | $1,643 | $1,844 |
| FY 2023 ↑21.6% | $1,345 | $1,375 | $1,553 |
| FY 2022 ↑8.8% | $1,111 | $1,131 | $1,289 |
| FY 2021 ↑1.5% | $1,016 | $1,040 | $1,185 |
| FY 2020 | $996 | $1,025 | $1,167 |
Part of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metro Area
Pickens County is a outlying county of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 28 other metro-area counties.
Pickens County ranks #24 of 29 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Fulton County ($1,660), Gwinnett County ($1,660), Cobb County ($1,660), DeKalb County ($1,660), Clayton County ($1,660), Cherokee County ($1,660), Forsyth County ($1,660), Henry County ($1,660), Paulding County ($1,660), Coweta County ($1,660), Douglas County ($1,660), Carroll County ($1,660), Fayette County ($1,660), Newton County ($1,660), Bartow County ($1,660), Walton County ($1,660), Rockdale County ($1,660), Barrow County ($1,660), Spalding County ($1,660), Dawson County ($1,660), Pike County ($1,660), Jasper County ($1,660), Heard County ($1,660), Pickens County (this county) ($1,660), Morgan County ($1,315), Lumpkin County ($1,136), Butts County ($977), Haralson County ($844), Meriwether County ($763).
Show all 29 counties in this metro area
Nearby Counties in Georgia
Largest counties by population in Georgia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Pickens County? ▼
How does Pickens County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Pickens County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Pickens County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Pickens County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Pickens County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Pickens County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Pickens County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Pickens'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 $1,660 implies about $66,400/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 Pickens 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.