County FMR · HUD FY2026
Sedgwick County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Sedgwick County, KS - 11% below the US average.
- $849
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,099
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +11.7%
- YoY change
- -11%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Sedgwick is the 8th most expensive of 105 counties in Kansas by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,289 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 11.7% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #1,289
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #8
- most expensive of 105 in Kansas (2BR)
- +13%
- vs the state average
- $33,960
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (37.7%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Sedgwick County, KS. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Sedgwick County, Kansas at $849 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,099/mo and a studio is $782/mo. This is 11% lower than the national average of $959 and 13% above the Kansas average of $753.
Rent increased11.7% from FY 2025 ($760), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $33,960/year for a 1-bedroom.
Observed renter burden: 41.5% of the 77,331 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 6.9%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.2% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Kansas. Population: 522,700. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.5%, Census ACS). That's faster than Kansas's statewide growth of +1.0% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area SEDGWICK·COUNTY·KS·KS
Sedgwick County, KS: $849/mo 1BR · #1289 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA KS
- 1BR-FMR $849
- 2BR-FMR $1,099
- RANK-MID #1,289
- YOY-SURGE +11.7%
- VSUS-BELOW -11%
- VS-ST-HIGH +13% KS
- INC-ROOM 15%
- POP-MAJOR 523K
- PHOTO-NEAR Johnson County
- VOUCH-90-110 $764–$934
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Johnson ($348 1BR gap)
Read with: How Fair Market Rent works
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $690 | $782 | +$92 (+13.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $760 | $849 | +$89 (+11.7%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $995 | $1,099 | +$104 (+10.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,305 | $1,444 | +$139 (+10.7%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,594 | $1,784 | +$190 (+11.9%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Sedgwick 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 Sedgwick sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,099 higher than 59% 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 Sedgwick compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Kansas counties
- Johnson
Johnson County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Wyandotte
Wyandotte County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Leavenworth
Leavenworth County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Douglas
Douglas County
$1,006 1BR FMR / mo
- Riley
Riley County
$875 1BR FMR / mo
- Sedgwick
Sedgwick County
$849 1BR FMR / mo
- Shawnee
Shawnee County
$820 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Sedgwick is highlighted. Nearby Kansas counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Johnson County ($1,197), Wyandotte County ($1,197), Leavenworth County ($1,197), Douglas County ($1,006), Riley County ($875), Sedgwick County (this county) ($849), Shawnee County ($820).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $849/mo compares to Kansas salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | KS Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $106,660 | 9.6% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $85,600 | 11.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $78,060 | 13.1% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $76,400 | 13.3% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $61,830 | 16.5% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,940 | 17.9% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $56,610 | 18% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $50,820 | 20% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $48,910 | 20.8% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $39,210 | 26% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $38,330 | 26.6% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $32,690 | 31.2% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,670 | 32.2% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $27,960 | 36.4% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,000 | 37.7% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Sedgwick County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Sedgwick (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 34.8% overall, from $630 to $849. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.7% (FY 2026).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑11.7% | $782 | $849 | $1,099 |
| FY 2025 ↓1.8% | $690 | $760 | $995 |
| FY 2024 ↑10.1% | $689 | $774 | $1,017 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.7% | $615 | $703 | $920 |
| FY 2022 ↓3.5% | $547 | $635 | $823 |
| FY 2021 ↑4.4% | $563 | $658 | $854 |
| FY 2020 | $536 | $630 | $822 |
Part of the Wichita, KS Metro Area
Sedgwick County is a central county of the Wichita, KS metropolitan statistical area, alongside 3 other metro-area counties.
Sedgwick County ranks #3 of 4 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Butler County ($849), Harvey County ($849), Sedgwick County (this county) ($849), Sumner County ($812).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Sedgwick County, both outside Kansas 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 KS (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside KS).
Nearby Counties in Kansas
Largest counties by population in Kansas
Showing the 8 largest of 104 other counties in Kansas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Sedgwick County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Sedgwick County is $849 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,099 and a studio is $782.
How does Sedgwick County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Sedgwick County is 11% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $849 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Sedgwick County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Sedgwick County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,099 ranks #1,289 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 Sedgwick County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $33,960 ($2,830/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Sedgwick County.
Is rent going up or down in Sedgwick County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Sedgwick County increased by 11.7% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $760 to $849.
Which jobs can afford rent in Sedgwick County?
Based on Kansas BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $849/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Sedgwick County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Sedgwick County went from $630 in FY 2020 to $849 in FY 2026, a total change of +34.8% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Sedgwick County?
In Sedgwick County, the FY 2026 FMR of $849/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 Sedgwick County?
For Sedgwick County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($849/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Sedgwick County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 6.9%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in Sedgwick County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.2% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Sedgwick'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 $849 implies about $33,960/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Kansas counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Johnson
- See where Sedgwick 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.