County FMR · HUD FY2026
Pinal County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Pinal County, AZ - 65% above the US average.
- $1,583
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,839
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -5.7%
- YoY change
- +65%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Pinal is the 2nd most expensive of 15 counties in Arizona by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has fallen 5.7% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #2
- most expensive of 15 in Arizona (2BR)
- +38%
- vs the state average
- $63,320
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- -5.7%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (14.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (57.5%); only 5 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Arizona counties range as much as 64% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Pinal County, AZ. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Pinal County, Arizona at $1,583 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,839/mo and a studio is $1,457/mo. This is 65% higher than the national average of $959 and 38% above the Arizona average of $1,151.
Rent decreased5.7% from FY 2025 ($1,679), declining against the trend. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $63,320/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Arizona. Population: 433,338. Population grew 7.0% 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 Arizona's statewide growth of +4.6% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Pinal County
The Pinal 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.
Pinal County's 1-bedroom rent runs 65% above the US average of $959 and 38% higher than the Arizona state average of $1,151. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$1,679 in FY 2025 to $1,583 in FY 2026 - a change of -5.7%, which is unusual and suggests softening demand or revised HUD sampling.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,583, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $63,320 per year (about $5,277/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,839 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 433,338 and a county median household income of $77,588, 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 | $1,530 | $1,457 | $-73 (-4.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,679 | $1,583 | $-96 (-5.7%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,950 | $1,839 | $-111 (-5.7%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,624 | $2,452 | $-172 (-6.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,934 | $2,720 | $-214 (-7.3%) |
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 Pinal 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.
Pinal County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Pinal sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,839 Top 6% higher than 94% 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 Pinal compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Arizona counties
- Coconino
Coconino County
$1,727 1BR FMR / mo
- Pinal
Pinal County
$1,583 1BR FMR / mo
- Maricopa
Maricopa County
$1,583 1BR FMR / mo
- Yavapai
Yavapai County
$1,309 1BR FMR / mo
- Pima
Pima County
$1,081 1BR FMR / mo
- Mohave
Mohave County
$1,060 1BR FMR / mo
- Yuma
Yuma County
$1,053 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Pinal is highlighted. Nearby Arizona counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Coconino County ($1,727), Pinal County (this county) ($1,583), Maricopa County ($1,583), Yavapai County ($1,309), Pima County ($1,081), Mohave County ($1,060), Yuma County ($1,053).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,583/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 | 14.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $96,890 | 19.6% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $90,000 | 21.1% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $79,370 | 23.9% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $78,620 | 24.2% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,220 | 31% | Stretched |
| Electricians | $59,480 | 31.9% | Stretched |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $53,690 | 35.4% | Stretched |
| Elementary School Teachers | $50,980 | 37.3% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $47,620 | 39.9% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,440 | 43.7% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,140 | 52.6% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,320 | 53.8% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $34,550 | 55% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $33,060 | 57.5% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Pinal County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Pinal (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 65.2% overall, from $958 to $1,583. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 34.5% (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 ↓5.7% | $1,457 | $1,583 | $1,839 |
| FY 2025 ↑5.0% | $1,530 | $1,679 | $1,950 |
| FY 2024 ↑9.0% | $1,460 | $1,599 | $1,877 |
| FY 2023 ↑34.5% | $1,344 | $1,467 | $1,740 |
| FY 2022 ↑5.7% | $1,005 | $1,091 | $1,311 |
| FY 2021 ↑7.7% | $933 | $1,032 | $1,251 |
| FY 2020 | $847 | $958 | $1,173 |
Part of the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Metro Area
Pinal County is a central county of the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.
Pinal County ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Maricopa County ($1,583), Pinal County (this county) ($1,583).
Nearby Counties in Arizona
Largest counties by population in Arizona
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Pinal County? ▼
How does Pinal County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Pinal County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Pinal County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Pinal County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Pinal County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Pinal County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Pinal County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Pinal'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 $1,583 implies about $63,320/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 Pinal 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.