County FMR · HUD FY2026
Plymouth County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Plymouth County, MA - 84% above the US average.
- $1,761
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $2,311
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +6.6%
- YoY change
- +84%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Plymouth is the 6th most expensive of 14 counties in Massachusetts by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 6.6% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #6
- most expensive of 14 in Massachusetts (2BR)
- -2%
- vs the state average
- $70,440
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +6.6%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (14%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (60.3%); nearby Massachusetts counties range as much as 79% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Plymouth County, MA. Verify with HUD →
Plymouth County, Massachusetts carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,761 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $2,311/mo and a studio is $1,631/mo. That's 84% above the national benchmark of $959 and 2% below the Massachusetts average of $1,796.
Rent increased6.6% from FY 2025 ($1,652), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $70,440/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Massachusetts. Population: 17,008. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.9%, Census ACS). That's faster than Massachusetts's statewide growth of +2.4% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Plymouth County
The Plymouth County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Massachusetts'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 84% above the US average of $959 and 2% lower than the Massachusetts state average of $1,796. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$1,652 in FY 2025 to $1,761 in FY 2026 - a change of +6.6%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,761, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $70,440 per year (about $5,870/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $2,311 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 17,008 and a county median household income of $109,698, 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 | $1,607 | $1,631 | +$24 (+1.5%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,652 | $1,761 | +$109 (+6.6%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $2,155 | $2,311 | +$156 (+7.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,730 | $2,889 | +$159 (+5.8%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,953 | $3,060 | +$107 (+3.6%) |
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 Plymouth 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.
Plymouth County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Plymouth sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$2,311 Top 2% higher than 98% 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 Plymouth compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Massachusetts counties
- Suffolk
Suffolk County
$2,476 1BR FMR / mo
- Middlesex
Middlesex County
$2,476 1BR FMR / mo
- Essex
Essex County
$2,476 1BR FMR / mo
- Barnstable
Barnstable County
$1,846 1BR FMR / mo
- Plymouth
Plymouth County
$1,761 1BR FMR / mo
- Hampshire
Hampshire County
$1,580 1BR FMR / mo
- Hampden
Hampden County
$1,382 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Plymouth is highlighted. Nearby Massachusetts counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Suffolk County ($2,476), Middlesex County ($2,476), Essex County ($2,476), Barnstable County ($1,846), Plymouth County (this county) ($1,761), Hampshire County ($1,580), Hampden County ($1,382).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,761/mo compares to Massachusetts salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | MA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $150,520 | 14% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $123,850 | 17.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $101,970 | 20.7% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $96,580 | 21.9% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $83,260 | 25.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $82,120 | 25.7% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $78,610 | 26.9% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $74,990 | 28.2% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,630 | 34.9% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $48,060 | 44% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $44,640 | 47.3% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $44,570 | 47.4% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $37,920 | 55.7% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,320 | 58.2% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $35,060 | 60.3% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Plymouth County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Plymouth (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 51.8% overall, from $1,160 to $1,761. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.0% (FY 2025).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑6.6% | $1,631 | $1,761 | $2,311 |
| FY 2025 ↑11.0% | $1,607 | $1,652 | $2,155 |
| FY 2024 ↑5.2% | $1,393 | $1,488 | $1,955 |
| FY 2023 ↑8.1% | $1,246 | $1,415 | $1,863 |
| FY 2022 ↑10.6% | $1,145 | $1,309 | $1,723 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.1% | $1,029 | $1,184 | $1,560 |
| FY 2020 | $1,064 | $1,160 | $1,528 |
Part of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
Plymouth County is a central county of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, alongside 6 other metro-area counties.
Plymouth County ranks #5 of 7 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Suffolk County ($2,476), Middlesex County ($2,476), Essex County ($2,476), Norfolk County ($1,761), Plymouth County (this county) ($1,761), Rockingham County ($1,730), Strafford County ($1,677).
Nearby Counties in Massachusetts
Largest counties by population in Massachusetts
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Plymouth County? ▼
How does Plymouth County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Plymouth County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Plymouth County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Plymouth County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Plymouth County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Plymouth County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Plymouth County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Plymouth'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 $1,761 implies about $70,440/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 Plymouth 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.