County FMR · HUD FY2026
Polk County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Polk County, FL - 28% above the US average.
- $1,230
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,497
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +12.6%
- YoY change
- +28%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Polk is the 30th most expensive of 67 counties in Florida by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 12.6% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #30
- most expensive of 67 in Florida (2BR)
- -5%
- vs the state average
- $49,200
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +12.6%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (52.7%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Polk County, FL. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Polk County, Florida at $1,230 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,497/mo and a studio is $1,226/mo. This is 28% higher than the national average of $959 and 5% below the Florida average of $1,296.
Rent increased12.6% from FY 2025 ($1,092), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $49,200/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Florida. Population: 736,229. Population grew 13.8% 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 Florida's statewide growth of +6.5% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Polk County
The Polk County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Florida'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.
Polk County's 1-bedroom rent runs 28% above the US average of $959 and 5% lower than the Florida state average of $1,296. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$1,092 in FY 2025 to $1,230 in FY 2026 - a change of +12.6%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,230, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $49,200 per year (about $4,100/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,497 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 736,229 and a county median household income of $63,644, 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 | $1,085 | $1,226 | +$141 (+13.0%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,092 | $1,230 | +$138 (+12.6%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,337 | $1,497 | +$160 (+12.0%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,797 | $2,023 | +$226 (+12.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,245 | $2,511 | +$266 (+11.8%) |
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 Polk 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.
Polk County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Polk sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,497 Top 15% higher than 85% 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 Polk compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Florida counties
- Miami-Dade
Miami-Dade County
$1,995 1BR FMR / mo
- Palm Beach
Palm Beach County
$1,901 1BR FMR / mo
- Broward
Broward County
$1,900 1BR FMR / mo
- Orange
Orange County
$1,731 1BR FMR / mo
- Hillsborough
Hillsborough County
$1,696 1BR FMR / mo
- Duval
Duval County
$1,382 1BR FMR / mo
- Polk
Polk County
$1,230 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Polk is highlighted. Nearby Florida counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Miami-Dade County ($1,995), Palm Beach County ($1,901), Broward County ($1,900), Orange County ($1,731), Hillsborough County ($1,696), Duval County ($1,382), Polk County (this county) ($1,230).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,230/mo compares to Florida salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | FL Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $126,550 | 11.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $100,750 | 14.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $82,850 | 17.8% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $78,470 | 18.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,190 | 19.4% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $60,280 | 24.5% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $55,550 | 26.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $53,100 | 27.8% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,000 | 29.5% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $39,640 | 37.2% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $38,890 | 38% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,950 | 46.2% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $31,540 | 46.8% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,230 | 48.8% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,990 | 52.7% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Polk County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Polk (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 75.2% overall, from $702 to $1,230. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +13.8% in FY 2021, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑12.6% | $1,226 | $1,230 | $1,497 |
| FY 2025 ↑7.9% | $1,085 | $1,092 | $1,337 |
| FY 2024 ↑8.2% | $1,006 | $1,012 | $1,250 |
| FY 2023 ↑11.8% | $930 | $935 | $1,157 |
| FY 2022 ↑4.6% | $830 | $836 | $1,056 |
| FY 2021 ↑13.8% | $794 | $799 | $1,023 |
| FY 2020 | $698 | $702 | $915 |
Part of the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL Metro Area
Polk County is a central county of the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Florida
Largest counties by population in Florida
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Polk County? ▼
How does Polk County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Polk County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Polk County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Polk County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Polk County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Polk County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Polk County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Polk'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 $1,230 implies about $49,200/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 Polk 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.