County FMR · HUD FY2026
Putnam County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Putnam County, GA - 6% below the US average.
- $898
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,134
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +9.0%
- YoY change
- -6%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Putnam is the 63rd most expensive of 159 counties in Georgia by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 9.0% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #63
- most expensive of 159 in Georgia (2BR)
- -12%
- vs the state average
- $35,920
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +9.0%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (41%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Putnam County, GA. Verify with HUD →
Putnam County, Georgia carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $898 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,134/mo and a studio is $892/mo. That's 6% below the national benchmark of $959 and 12% below the Georgia average of $1,023.
Rent increased9.0% from FY 2025 ($824), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $35,920/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Georgia. Population: 22,206. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+4.7%, Census ACS). That's in line with Georgia's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Putnam County
The Putnam 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 6% below the US average of $959 and 12% lower than the Georgia state average of $1,023. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$824 in FY 2025 to $898 in FY 2026 - a change of +9.0%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $898, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $35,920 per year (about $2,993/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,134 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 22,206 and a county median household income of $64,163, 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 | $819 | $892 | +$73 (+8.9%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $824 | $898 | +$74 (+9.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,044 | $1,134 | +$90 (+8.6%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,396 | $1,546 | +$150 (+10.7%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,753 | $1,626 | $-127 (-7.2%) |
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 Putnam 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.
Putnam County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Putnam sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,134 Top 38% higher than 62% 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 Putnam compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Georgia counties
- 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
- Putnam
Putnam County
$898 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Putnam is highlighted. Nearby Georgia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fulton County ($1,660), Gwinnett County ($1,660), Cobb County ($1,660), DeKalb County ($1,660), Clayton County ($1,660), Chatham County ($1,533), Putnam County (this county) ($898).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $898/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 | 8.4% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $99,800 | 10.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $86,560 | 12.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $80,100 | 13.5% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $63,490 | 17% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $58,860 | 18.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,570 | 19% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $56,350 | 19.1% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $55,120 | 19.6% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,030 | 27.6% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $38,390 | 28.1% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $33,130 | 32.5% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,770 | 36.2% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $27,860 | 38.7% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $26,310 | 41% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Putnam County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Putnam (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 33.2% overall, from $674 to $898. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 12.0% (FY 2024).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑9.0% | $892 | $898 | $1,134 |
| FY 2025 ↑2.4% | $819 | $824 | $1,044 |
| FY 2024 ↑12.0% | $800 | $805 | $1,022 |
| FY 2023 ↑11.5% | $715 | $719 | $916 |
| FY 2022 ↓4.4% | $641 | $645 | $828 |
| FY 2021 ↑0.1% | $649 | $675 | $769 |
| FY 2020 | $655 | $674 | $767 |
Where Putnam County Ranks in Georgia
Putnam 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 #97 of 159 counties in Georgia. Nearest by rank: Rabun County ($1,117), Whitfield County ($1,121), Dougherty County ($1,129), Lee County ($1,129), Peach County ($1,129), Terrell County ($1,129), Worth County ($1,129), Long County ($1,133), Putnam County (this county) ($1,134), Thomas County ($1,149), Jackson County ($1,153), Troup County ($1,167), Monroe County ($1,174), White County ($1,177), Bulloch County ($1,178), Brooks County ($1,192), Echols County ($1,192).
Nearby Counties in Georgia
Largest counties by population in Georgia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Putnam County? ▼
How does Putnam County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Putnam County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Putnam County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Putnam County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Putnam County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Putnam County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Putnam County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Putnam'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 $898 implies about $35,920/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 Putnam 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.