County FMR · HUD FY2026
San Miguel County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for San Miguel County, CO - 31% above the US average.
- $1,254
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,645
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -5.4%
- YoY change
- +31%
- vs US avg
The verdict
San Miguel is the 18th most expensive of 64 counties in Colorado by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has fallen 5.4% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #18
- most expensive of 64 in Colorado (2BR)
- +8%
- vs the state average
- $50,160
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- -5.4%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.2%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (47.9%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for San Miguel County, CO. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for San Miguel County, Colorado at $1,254 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,645/mo and a studio is $1,245/mo. This is 31% higher than the national average of $959 and 8% above the Colorado average of $1,161.
Rent decreased5.4% from FY 2025 ($1,326), declining against the trend. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $50,160/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Colorado. Population: 8,082. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.7%, Census ACS). That's slower than Colorado's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.
What these rents mean for San Miguel County
The San Miguel County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Colorado'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.
San Miguel County's 1-bedroom rent runs 31% above the US average of $959 and 8% higher than the Colorado state average of $1,161. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$1,326 in FY 2025 to $1,254 in FY 2026 - a change of -5.4%, which is unusual and suggests softening demand or revised HUD sampling.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,254, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $50,160 per year (about $4,180/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,645 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 8,082 and a county median household income of $80,117, 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 | $1,318 | $1,245 | $-73 (-5.5%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,326 | $1,254 | $-72 (-5.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,743 | $1,645 | $-98 (-5.6%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,438 | $2,288 | $-150 (-6.2%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,806 | $2,579 | $-227 (-8.1%) |
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 San Miguel 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.
San Miguel County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where San Miguel sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,645 Top 12% higher than 88% 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 San Miguel compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Colorado counties
- Denver
Denver County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Arapahoe
Arapahoe County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Jefferson
Jefferson County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Adams
Adams County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- Douglas
Douglas County
$1,754 1BR FMR / mo
- El Paso
El Paso County
$1,464 1BR FMR / mo
- San Miguel
San Miguel County
$1,254 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows San Miguel is highlighted. Nearby Colorado counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Denver County ($1,754), Arapahoe County ($1,754), Jefferson County ($1,754), Adams County ($1,754), Douglas County ($1,754), El Paso County ($1,464), San Miguel County (this county) ($1,254).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,254/mo compares to Colorado salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | CO Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $134,540 | 11.2% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $130,340 | 11.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $96,520 | 15.6% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $96,100 | 15.7% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $90,030 | 16.7% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $73,380 | 20.5% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $62,090 | 24.2% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,550 | 24.4% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,260 | 25% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $48,070 | 31.3% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,020 | 32.7% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,270 | 40.4% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,960 | 40.7% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $35,440 | 42.5% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $31,390 | 47.9% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for San Miguel County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for San Miguel (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 21.7% overall, from $1,030 to $1,254. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 13.3% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓5.4% | $1,245 | $1,254 | $1,645 |
| FY 2025 ↓10.0% | $1,318 | $1,326 | $1,743 |
| FY 2024 ↑13.3% | $1,312 | $1,473 | $1,936 |
| FY 2023 ↑0.3% | $1,144 | $1,300 | $1,711 |
| FY 2022 ↑11.8% | $1,112 | $1,296 | $1,673 |
| FY 2021 ↑12.5% | $984 | $1,159 | $1,491 |
| FY 2020 | $884 | $1,030 | $1,357 |
Where San Miguel County Ranks in Colorado
San Miguel 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 #47 of 64 counties in Colorado. Nearest by rank: Mineral County ($1,343), Chaffee County ($1,466), Grand County ($1,475), Teller County ($1,493), Ouray County ($1,526), Weld County ($1,563), La Plata County ($1,589), Garfield County ($1,605), San Miguel County (this county) ($1,645), Larimer County ($1,732), El Paso County ($1,735), Routt County ($2,022), Adams County ($2,089), Arapahoe County ($2,089), Broomfield County ($2,089), Clear Creek County ($2,089), Denver County ($2,089).
Nearby Counties in Colorado
Largest counties by population in Colorado
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in San Miguel County? ▼
How does San Miguel County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in San Miguel County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in San Miguel County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in San Miguel County? ▼
How much has rent changed in San Miguel County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in San Miguel County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for San Miguel County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat San Miguel'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 $1,254 implies about $50,160/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 San Miguel 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.