County FMR · HUD FY2026

Radford city Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Radford city, VA - 4% above the US average.

$993
1-bedroom FMR
$1,271
2-bedroom FMR
+2.6%
YoY change
+4%
vs US avg

The verdict

Radford city is the 60th most expensive of 133 counties in Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #818 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#818
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#60
most expensive of 133 in Virginia (2BR)
-16%
vs the state average
$39,720
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (41%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Radford city, VA. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Radford city, Virginia at $993 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,271/mo and a studio is $910/mo. This is 4% higher than the national average of $959 and 16% below the Virginia average of $1,182.

Rent increased2.6% from FY 2025 ($968), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $39,720/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 51.3% of the 3,153 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Virginia. Population: 16,379. Population declined 6.4% over the past five years (Census ACS), a trend that can ease rental-market pressure over time even as FMR reflects recent rent levels. That's slower than Virginia's statewide growth of +2.9% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area RADFORD·CITY·VA·VA

Radford city, VA: $993/mo 1BR · #818 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA VA
  • 1BR-FMR $993
  • 2BR-FMR $1,271
  • RANK-MID #818
  • YOY-UP +2.6%
  • VSUS-NEAR +4%
  • VS-ST-LOW -16% VA
  • INC-MID 23%
  • POP-SMALL 16K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Fairfax County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $894–$1,092
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Fairfax ($1,022 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,137 · US avg: $893
$910/mo
↓ 1.6% YoY -20% vs state +2% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,182 · US avg: $959
$993/mo
↑ 2.6% YoY -16% vs state +4% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,369 · US avg: $1,175
$1,271/mo
↑ 3.2% YoY -7% vs state +8% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,789 · US avg: $1,525
$1,706/mo
↑ 3.6% YoY -5% vs state +12% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,128 · US avg: $1,756
$2,132/mo
↑ 3.1% YoY +0% vs state +21% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $925
$910
$-15 (-1.6%)
1 Bedroom $968
$993
+$25 (+2.6%)
2 Bedroom $1,231
$1,271
+$40 (+3.2%)
3 Bedroom $1,647
$1,706
+$59 (+3.6%)
4 Bedroom $2,067
$2,132
+$65 (+3.1%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Radford city. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
20.7%
Affordable
Need $36,400/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
22.6%
Affordable
Need $39,720/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
28.9%
Affordable
Need $50,840/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
38.8%
Burdened
Need $68,240/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
48.5%
Burdened
Need $85,280/yr for 30% rule
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.

0%100%National avg22%28.9%
Radford city 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $52,791 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Virginia rent burden →

Where Radford city sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,271 Top 26% higher than 74% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). This entry sits in this band. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

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 Radford city compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Virginia counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Radford city is highlighted. Nearby Virginia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fairfax County ($2,015), Prince William County ($2,015), Loudoun County ($2,015), Virginia Beach city ($1,512), Chesterfield County ($1,507), Henrico County ($1,507), Radford city (this county) ($993).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $993/mo compares to Virginia salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation VA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $134,470 8.9% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $121,530 9.8% Affordable
Registered Nurses $88,820 13.4% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $84,190 14.2% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $65,110 18.3% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $62,270 19.1% Affordable
Electricians $61,610 19.3% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $61,200 19.5% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $54,500 21.9% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $42,490 28% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,210 30.4% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $36,650 32.5% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $33,970 35.1% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $32,760 36.4% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $29,060 41% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Virginia) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Radford city. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Radford city (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 13.9% overall, from $872 to $993. Rent fell in 3 of the last 6 tracked years, including a 16.2% drop in FY 2024 - an unusual multi-year softening rather than the steady increases seen in most US counties.

$750$800$850$900$950$1,000$1,050 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $993
Radford city 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑2.6% $910 $993 $1,271
FY 2025 ↓3.1% $925 $968 $1,231
FY 2024 ↑16.2% $993 $999 $1,261
FY 2023 ↑7.4% $827 $860 $1,051
FY 2022 ↓6.6% $743 $801 $935
FY 2021 ↓1.6% $795 $858 $978
FY 2020 $797 $872 $993
Total change (6yr): +13.9%
Annualized: +2.2%/yr
1 BR: $872 → $993

Part of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metro Area

Radford city is a central county of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 4 other metro-area counties.

Radford city ranks #2 of 5 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Montgomery County ($993), Radford city (this county) ($993), Giles County ($898), Pulaski County ($840), Floyd County ($834).

Montgomery County
1 BR: $993/mo
Radford city (this county)
1 BR: $993/mo
Giles County
1 BR: $898/mo
Pulaski County
1 BR: $840/mo
Floyd County
1 BR: $834/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Radford city, both outside Virginia so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside VA (FY2026).

Douglas County
OR · 2 BR $1,271/mo
Highlands County
FL · 2 BR $1,271/mo
Hendry County
FL · 2 BR $1,271/mo
Jefferson County
KY · 2 BR $1,272/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside VA).

Carbon County
PA · 28.9% of income · 2 BR $1,634/mo
Saluda County
SC · 28.9% of income · 2 BR $1,276/mo
Baca County
CO · 28.9% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Park County
MT · 28.9% of income · 2 BR $1,605/mo

Nearby Counties in Virginia

Largest counties by population in Virginia

Showing the 8 largest of 132 other counties in Virginia.

Fairfax County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 1,145,354
Prince William County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 481,114
Virginia Beach city
1 BR: $1,512/mo Pop: 457,900
Loudoun County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 420,773
Chesterfield County
1 BR: $1,507/mo Pop: 366,019
Henrico County
1 BR: $1,507/mo Pop: 333,120
Chesapeake city
1 BR: $1,512/mo Pop: 249,377
Norfolk city
1 BR: $1,512/mo Pop: 236,973
View all counties in Virginia →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Radford city? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Radford city is $993 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,271 and a studio is $910.
How does Radford city rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Radford city is 4% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $993 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Radford city rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Radford city's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,271 ranks #818 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Radford city? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $39,720 ($3,310/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Radford city.
Is rent going up or down in Radford city? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Radford city increased by 2.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $968 to $993.
Which jobs can afford rent in Radford city? ▼
Based on Virginia BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $993/mo. 10 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Radford city over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Radford city went from $872 in FY 2020 to $993 in FY 2026, a total change of +13.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Radford city? ▼
In Radford city, the FY 2026 FMR of $993/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Radford city? ▼
For Radford city, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($993/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

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.