County FMR · HUD FY2026

Santa Cruz County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Santa Cruz County, AZ - 10% below the US average.

$860
1-bedroom FMR
$1,129
2-bedroom FMR
+1.3%
YoY change
-10%
vs US avg

The verdict

Santa Cruz is the 1st cheapest of 15 counties in Arizona by 2-bedroom FMR.

#1
cheapest of 15 in Arizona (2BR)
-25%
vs the state average
$34,400
income to afford it (30% rule)
+1.3%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (31.2%); 14 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Arizona counties range as much as 50% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Santa Cruz County, AZ. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Cruz County, Arizona is $860 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,129/mo and a studio is $778/mo. This is 10% lower than the national average of $959 and 25% below the Arizona average of $1,151.

Rent increased1.3% from FY 2025 ($849), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $34,400/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Arizona. Population: 47,838. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.5%, Census ACS). That's in line with Arizona's statewide growth of +4.6% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Santa Cruz County

The Santa Cruz County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Arizona'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 10% below the US average of $959 and 25% lower than the Arizona state average of $1,151. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$849 in FY 2025 to $860 in FY 2026 - a change of +1.3%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $860, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $34,400 per year (about $2,867/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,129 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 47,838 and a county median household income of $53,614, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,053 · US avg: $893
$778/mo
↑ 1.8% YoY -26% vs state -13% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,151 · US avg: $959
$860/mo
↑ 1.3% YoY -25% vs state -10% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,419 · US avg: $1,175
$1,129/mo
↑ 1.3% YoY -20% vs state -4% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,889 · US avg: $1,525
$1,570/mo
↑ 0.6% YoY -17% vs state +3% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,158 · US avg: $1,756
$1,615/mo
↑ 2.9% YoY -25% vs state -8% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $764
$778
+$14 (+1.8%)
1 Bedroom $849
$860
+$11 (+1.3%)
2 Bedroom $1,114
$1,129
+$15 (+1.3%)
3 Bedroom $1,561
$1,570
+$9 (+0.6%)
4 Bedroom $1,570
$1,615
+$45 (+2.9%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$34,400
$2,867/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$45,160
$3,763/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Santa Cruz County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
17.4%
Affordable
Need $31,120/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
19.2%
Affordable
Need $34,400/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
25.3%
Affordable
Need $45,160/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
35.1%
Burdened
Need $62,800/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
36.1%
Burdened
Need $64,600/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.

Santa Cruz County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%25.3%
Santa Cruz County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $53,614 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Arizona rent burden →

Where Santa Cruz sits among every US county

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

$1,129 Top 38% higher than 62% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $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 Santa Cruz compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Arizona counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Santa Cruz is highlighted. Nearby Arizona counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Maricopa County ($1,583), Pinal County ($1,583), Yavapai County ($1,309), Pima County ($1,081), Mohave County ($1,060), Yuma County ($1,053), Santa Cruz County (this county) ($860).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $860/mo compares to Arizona salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation AZ Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $128,690 8% Affordable
Registered Nurses $96,890 10.7% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $90,000 11.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $79,370 13% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $78,620 13.1% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $61,220 16.9% Affordable
Electricians $59,480 17.4% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $53,690 19.2% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $50,980 20.2% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $47,620 21.7% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $43,440 23.8% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $36,140 28.6% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $35,320 29.2% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $34,550 29.9% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $33,060 31.2% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Arizona) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Santa Cruz County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Santa Cruz (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 50.6% overall, from $571 to $860. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +13.1% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$500$600$700$800$900 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $860
Santa Cruz County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑1.3% $778 $860 $1,129
FY 2025 ↑9.1% $764 $849 $1,114
FY 2024 ↑13.1% $693 $778 $1,022
FY 2023 ↑7.0% $605 $688 $905
FY 2022 ↑7.5% $574 $643 $846
FY 2021 ↑4.7% $557 $598 $788
FY 2020 $533 $571 $752
Total change (6yr): +50.6%
Annualized: +7.1%/yr
1 BR: $571 → $860

Part of the Nogales, AZ Micro Area

Santa Cruz County is a central county of the Nogales, AZ micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in Arizona

Largest counties by population in Arizona

Maricopa County
1 BR: $1,583/mo Pop: 4,430,871
Pima County
1 BR: $1,081/mo Pop: 1,042,393
Pinal County
1 BR: $1,583/mo Pop: 433,338
Yavapai County
1 BR: $1,309/mo Pop: 237,830
Mohave County
1 BR: $1,060/mo Pop: 214,229
Yuma County
1 BR: $1,053/mo Pop: 204,374
Coconino County
1 BR: $1,727/mo Pop: 144,705
Cochise County
1 BR: $1,111/mo Pop: 125,504
View all counties in Arizona →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Santa Cruz County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Santa Cruz County is $860 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,129 and a studio is $778.
How does Santa Cruz County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Santa Cruz County is 10% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $860 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Santa Cruz County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $34,400 ($2,867/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Santa Cruz County.
Is rent going up or down in Santa Cruz County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Santa Cruz County increased by 1.3% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $849 to $860.
Which jobs can afford rent in Santa Cruz County? ▼
Based on Arizona BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $860/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Santa Cruz County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Santa Cruz County went from $571 in FY 2020 to $860 in FY 2026, a total change of +50.6% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Santa Cruz County? ▼
In Santa Cruz County, the FY 2026 FMR of $860/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 Santa Cruz County? ▼
For Santa Cruz County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($860/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Santa Cruz'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 $860 implies about $34,400/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 Santa Cruz 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.

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.