County FMR · HUD FY2026
Richland County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Richland County, WI - 15% below the US average.
- $815
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $973
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +2.5%
- YoY change
- -15%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Richland is the 23rd cheapest of 72 counties in Wisconsin by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #976 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #976
- most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #23
- cheapest of 72 in Wisconsin (2BR)
- -7%
- vs the state average
- $32,600
- income to afford it (30% rule)
General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (34.3%); 14 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Wisconsin counties range as much as 59% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Richland County, WI. Verify with HUD →
Richland County, Wisconsin carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $815 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $973/mo and a studio is $671/mo. That's 15% below the national benchmark of $959 and 7% below the Wisconsin average of $872.
Rent increased2.5% from FY 2025 ($795), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $32,600/year.
Observed renter burden: 29.5% of the 1,673 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.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 11.4%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.4% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Wisconsin. Population: 17,256. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-1.8%, Census ACS). That's slower than Wisconsin's statewide growth of +2.0% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area RICHLAND·COUNTY·WI·WI
Richland County, WI: $815/mo 1BR · #976 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA WI
- 1BR-FMR $815
- 2BR-FMR $973
- RANK-MID #976
- YOY-UP +2.5%
- VSUS-BELOW -15%
- VS-ST-NEAR -7% WI
- INC-ROOM 16%
- POP-SMALL 17K
- PHOTO-NEAR Milwaukee County
- VOUCH-90-110 $734–$897
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Milwaukee ($304 1BR gap)
Read with: Section 8 housing guide
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $640 | $671 | +$31 (+4.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $795 | $815 | +$20 (+2.5%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $933 | $973 | +$40 (+4.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,128 | $1,167 | +$39 (+3.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,477 | $1,461 | $-16 (-1.1%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Richland 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.
Where Richland sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$973 higher than 31% 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 Richland compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Wisconsin counties
- Dane
Dane County
$1,482 1BR FMR / mo
- Milwaukee
Milwaukee County
$1,119 1BR FMR / mo
- Waukesha
Waukesha County
$1,119 1BR FMR / mo
- Racine
Racine County
$988 1BR FMR / mo
- Outagamie
Outagamie County
$960 1BR FMR / mo
- Brown
Brown County
$931 1BR FMR / mo
- Richland
Richland County
$815 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Richland is highlighted. Nearby Wisconsin counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Dane County ($1,482), Milwaukee County ($1,119), Waukesha County ($1,119), Racine County ($988), Outagamie County ($960), Brown County ($931), Richland County (this county) ($815).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
With a below-average 1-bedroom at $815/mo, most of these Wisconsin occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.
| Occupation | WI Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| General & Operations Managers | $113,170 | 8.6% | Affordable |
| Software Developers | $103,360 | 9.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $86,070 | 11.4% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $78,980 | 12.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $78,150 | 12.5% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $75,090 | 13% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $60,690 | 16.1% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,380 | 17% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $56,520 | 17.3% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $45,980 | 21.3% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $43,620 | 22.4% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,050 | 27.1% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,850 | 27.3% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,640 | 29.1% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,500 | 34.3% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Richland County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Richland (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 42.7% overall, from $571 to $815. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +13.3% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑2.5% | $671 | $815 | $973 |
| FY 2025 ↑2.1% | $640 | $795 | $933 |
| FY 2024 ↑7.4% | $613 | $779 | $905 |
| FY 2023 ↑13.3% | $554 | $725 | $826 |
| FY 2022 ↑6.0% | $522 | $640 | $757 |
| FY 2021 ↑5.8% | $500 | $604 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $478 | $571 | $734 |
Where Richland County Ranks in Wisconsin
Richland 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 #23 of 72 counties in Wisconsin. Nearest by rank: Lincoln County ($973), Manitowoc County ($973), Marinette County ($973), Marquette County ($973), Menominee County ($973), Oconto County ($973), Pepin County ($973), Price County ($973), Richland County (this county) ($973), Rusk County ($973), Shawano County ($973), Taylor County ($973), Vernon County ($973), Vilas County ($973), Waupaca County ($973), Waushara County ($973), Wood County ($973).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Richland County, both outside Wisconsin 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 WI (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside WI).
Nearby Counties in Wisconsin
Largest counties by population in Wisconsin
Showing the 8 largest of 71 other counties in Wisconsin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Richland County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Richland County is $815 per month. A 2-bedroom is $973 and a studio is $671.
How does Richland County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Richland County is 15% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $815 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Richland County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Richland County's 2-bedroom FMR of $973 ranks #976 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Richland County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $32,600 ($2,717/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Richland County.
Is rent going up or down in Richland County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Richland County increased by 2.5% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $795 to $815.
Which jobs can afford rent in Richland County?
Based on Wisconsin BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like General and Operations Managers, Software Developers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $815/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Richland County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Richland County went from $571 in FY 2020 to $815 in FY 2026, a total change of +42.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Richland County?
In Richland County, the FY 2026 FMR of $815/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 Richland County?
For Richland County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($815/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Richland County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 11.4%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
What is the unemployment rate in Richland County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.4% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Richland's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $815 implies about $32,600/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Wisconsin counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Milwaukee
- See where Richland ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.