County FMR · HUD FY2026
Salem city Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Salem city, VA - 10% above the US average.
- $1,053
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,254
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +11.1%
- YoY change
- +10%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Salem city is the 65th most expensive of 133 counties in Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 11.1% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #65
- most expensive of 133 in Virginia (2BR)
- -11%
- vs the state average
- $42,120
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +11.1%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (43.5%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Salem city, VA. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Salem city, Virginia at $1,053 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,254/mo and a studio is $1,004/mo. This is 10% higher than the national average of $959 and 11% below the Virginia average of $1,182.
Rent increased11.1% from FY 2025 ($948), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $42,120/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Virginia. Population: 25,372. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.2%, Census ACS). That's slower than Virginia's statewide growth of +2.9% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Salem city
The Salem city FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Virginia'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.
Salem city's 1-bedroom rent runs 10% above the US average of $959 and 11% lower than the Virginia state average of $1,182. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$948 in FY 2025 to $1,053 in FY 2026 - a change of +11.1%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,053, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $42,120 per year (about $3,510/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,254 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 25,372 and a county median household income of $66,716, 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 | $892 | $1,004 | +$112 (+12.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $948 | $1,053 | +$105 (+11.1%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,141 | $1,254 | +$113 (+9.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,597 | $1,743 | +$146 (+9.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,885 | $2,104 | +$219 (+11.6%) |
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 Salem city. 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.
Salem city 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Salem city sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,254 Top 28% higher than 72% 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 Salem city compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Virginia counties
- Fairfax
Fairfax County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Prince William
Prince William County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Loudoun
Loudoun County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Virginia Beach city
Virginia Beach city
$1,512 1BR FMR / mo
- Chesterfield
Chesterfield County
$1,507 1BR FMR / mo
- Henrico
Henrico County
$1,507 1BR FMR / mo
- Salem city
Salem city
$1,053 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Salem 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), Salem city (this county) ($1,053).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,053/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 | 9.4% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $121,530 | 10.4% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $88,820 | 14.2% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $84,190 | 15% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $65,110 | 19.4% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,270 | 20.3% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $61,610 | 20.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,200 | 20.6% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $54,500 | 23.2% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $42,490 | 29.7% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,210 | 32.2% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,650 | 34.5% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $33,970 | 37.2% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $32,760 | 38.6% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,060 | 43.5% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Salem city. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Salem city (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 57.6% overall, from $668 to $1,053. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.7% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑11.1% | $1,004 | $1,053 | $1,254 |
| FY 2025 ↑6.0% | $892 | $948 | $1,141 |
| FY 2024 ↑11.3% | $811 | $894 | $1,088 |
| FY 2023 ↑14.7% | $723 | $803 | $990 |
| FY 2022 ↓5.8% | $617 | $700 | $879 |
| FY 2021 ↑11.2% | $641 | $743 | $941 |
| FY 2020 | $555 | $668 | $844 |
Part of the Roanoke, VA Metro Area
Salem city is a central county of the Roanoke, VA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 5 other metro-area counties.
Salem city ranks #5 of 6 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Roanoke city ($1,053), Roanoke County ($1,053), Botetourt County ($1,053), Craig County ($1,053), Salem city (this county) ($1,053), Franklin County ($861).
Nearby Counties in Virginia
Largest counties by population in Virginia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Salem city? ▼
How does Salem city rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Salem city? ▼
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How much has rent changed in Salem city over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Salem city? ▼
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What this means for renters
Treat Salem city'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 $1,053 implies about $42,120/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 Salem city 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.