County FMR · HUD FY2026
Polk County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Polk County, NE - 24% below the US average.
- $732
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $961
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +5.9%
- YoY change
- -24%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Polk is the 42nd most expensive of 93 counties in Nebraska by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 5.9% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #42
- most expensive of 93 in Nebraska (2BR)
- -7%
- vs the state average
- $29,280
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +5.9%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.5%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (31.6%); 14 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 Polk County, NE. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Polk County, Nebraska is $732 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $961/mo and a studio is $666/mo. This is 24% lower than the national average of $959 and 7% below the Nebraska average of $791.
Rent increased5.9% from FY 2025 ($691), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $29,280/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Nebraska. Population: 5,182. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.9%, Census ACS). That's slower than Nebraska's statewide growth of +3.2% 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 Nebraska'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 24% below the US average of $959 and 7% lower than the Nebraska state average of $791. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$691 in FY 2025 to $732 in FY 2026 - a change of +5.9%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $732, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $29,280 per year (about $2,440/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $961 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 5,182 and a county median household income of $71,771, 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 | $622 | $666 | +$44 (+7.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $691 | $732 | +$41 (+5.9%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $907 | $961 | +$54 (+6.0%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,093 | $1,152 | +$59 (+5.4%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,204 | $1,284 | +$80 (+6.6%) |
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 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
$961 higher than 28% 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 Nebraska counties
- Douglas
Douglas County
$1,148 1BR FMR / mo
- Sarpy
Sarpy County
$1,148 1BR FMR / mo
- Hall
Hall County
$978 1BR FMR / mo
- Lancaster
Lancaster County
$926 1BR FMR / mo
- Buffalo
Buffalo County
$863 1BR FMR / mo
- Dodge
Dodge County
$861 1BR FMR / mo
- Polk
Polk County
$732 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Polk is highlighted. Nearby Nebraska counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Douglas County ($1,148), Sarpy County ($1,148), Hall County ($978), Lancaster County ($926), Buffalo County ($863), Dodge County ($861), Polk County (this county) ($732).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $732/mo compares to Nebraska salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | NE Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $116,420 | 7.5% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $82,570 | 10.6% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $81,020 | 10.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $72,160 | 12.2% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $69,980 | 12.6% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,700 | 14.2% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,410 | 14.3% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $60,020 | 14.6% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,940 | 15.2% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $41,400 | 21.2% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $40,790 | 21.5% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,820 | 24.5% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,350 | 28.9% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,420 | 29.9% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $27,840 | 31.6% | Stretched |
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 33.3% overall, from $549 to $732. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 7.5% (FY 2023).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑5.9% | $666 | $732 | $961 |
| FY 2025 ↑4.1% | $622 | $691 | $907 |
| FY 2024 ↑5.7% | $591 | $664 | $872 |
| FY 2023 ↑7.5% | $562 | $628 | $826 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.8% | $507 | $584 | $757 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.5% | $484 | $568 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $455 | $549 | $698 |
Where Polk County Ranks in Nebraska
Polk 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 #52 of 93 counties in Nebraska. Nearest by rank: Morrill County ($961), Nance County ($961), Nemaha County ($961), Nuckolls County ($961), Pawnee County ($961), Perkins County ($961), Phelps County ($961), Pierce County ($961), Polk County (this county) ($961), Red Willow County ($961), Richardson County ($961), Rock County ($961), Saline County ($961), Sheridan County ($961), Sherman County ($961), Sioux County ($961), Thayer County ($961).
Nearby Counties in Nebraska
Largest counties by population in Nebraska
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 $732 implies about $29,280/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.