County FMR · HUD FY2026

Seminole County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Seminole County, FL - 81% above the US average.

$1,731
1-bedroom FMR
$1,972
2-bedroom FMR
+0.2%
YoY change
+81%
vs US avg

The verdict

Seminole is the 10th most expensive of 67 counties in Florida by 2-bedroom FMR.

#10
most expensive of 67 in Florida (2BR)
+34%
vs the state average
$69,240
income to afford it (30% rule)
+0.2%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (16.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (74.2%); only 5 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Seminole County, FL. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Seminole County, Florida is $1,731 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,972/mo and a studio is $1,650/mo. This is 81% higher than the national average of $959 and 34% above the Florida average of $1,296.

Rent increased0.2% from FY 2025 ($1,727), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $69,240/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Florida. Population: 471,321. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+4.4%, Census ACS). That's slower than Florida's statewide growth of +6.5% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Seminole County

The Seminole County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Florida'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 81% above the US average of $959 and 34% higher than the Florida state average of $1,296. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$1,727 in FY 2025 to $1,731 in FY 2026 - a change of +0.2%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,731, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $69,240 per year (about $5,770/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,972 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 471,321 and a county median household income of $83,030, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,212 · US avg: $893
$1,650/mo
↑ 0.9% YoY +36% vs state +85% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,296 · US avg: $959
$1,731/mo
↑ 0.2% YoY +34% vs state +81% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,526 · US avg: $1,175
$1,972/mo
↑ 0.7% YoY +29% vs state +68% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,971 · US avg: $1,525
$2,476/mo
↓ 0.4% YoY +26% vs state +62% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,261 · US avg: $1,756
$2,924/mo
↓ 1.2% YoY +29% vs state +67% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,636
$1,650
+$14 (+0.9%)
1 Bedroom $1,727
$1,731
+$4 (+0.2%)
2 Bedroom $1,958
$1,972
+$14 (+0.7%)
3 Bedroom $2,486
$2,476
$-10 (-0.4%)
4 Bedroom $2,960
$2,924
$-36 (-1.2%)

Affordability Snapshot

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

Required annual income for 1 BR
$69,240
$5,770/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$78,880
$6,573/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
23.8%
Affordable
Need $66,000/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
25%
Affordable
Need $69,240/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
28.5%
Affordable
Need $78,880/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
35.8%
Burdened
Need $99,040/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
42.3%
Burdened
Need $116,960/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.

Seminole County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%28.5%
Seminole County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $83,030 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Florida rent burden →

Where Seminole sits among every US county

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

$1,972 Top 4% higher than 96% 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%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Below this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Seminole compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Florida counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Seminole is highlighted. Nearby Florida counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Miami-Dade County ($1,995), Palm Beach County ($1,901), Broward County ($1,900), Seminole County (this county) ($1,731), Orange County ($1,731), Hillsborough County ($1,696), Duval County ($1,382).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,731/mo compares to Florida salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation FL Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $126,550 16.4% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $100,750 20.6% Affordable
Registered Nurses $82,850 25.1% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $78,470 26.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $76,190 27.3% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $60,280 34.5% Stretched
Elementary School Teachers $55,550 37.4% Stretched
Electricians $53,100 39.1% Stretched
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,000 41.5% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $39,640 52.4% Unaffordable
Customer Service Representatives $38,890 53.4% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $31,950 65% Unaffordable
Janitors & Cleaners $31,540 65.9% Unaffordable
Teaching Assistants $30,230 68.7% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $27,990 74.2% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Florida) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Seminole (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 62.7% overall, from $1,064 to $1,731. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.2% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600$1,800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,731
Seminole County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑0.2% $1,650 $1,731 $1,972
FY 2025 ↑5.4% $1,636 $1,727 $1,958
FY 2024 ↑15.2% $1,558 $1,638 $1,857
FY 2023 ↑15.0% $1,338 $1,422 $1,616
FY 2022 ↑8.5% $1,152 $1,237 $1,422
FY 2021 ↑7.1% $1,055 $1,140 $1,321
FY 2020 $989 $1,064 $1,248
Total change (6yr): +62.7%
Annualized: +8.4%/yr
1 BR: $1,064 → $1,731

Part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Metro Area

Seminole County is a central county of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metropolitan statistical area, alongside 3 other metro-area counties.

Seminole County ranks #4 of 4 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Orange County ($1,731), Osceola County ($1,731), Lake County ($1,731), Seminole County (this county) ($1,731).

Nearby Counties in Florida

Largest counties by population in Florida

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Seminole County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Seminole County is $1,731 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,972 and a studio is $1,650.
How does Seminole County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Seminole County is 81% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,731 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Seminole County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $69,240 ($5,770/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Seminole County.
Is rent going up or down in Seminole County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Seminole County increased by 0.2% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,727 to $1,731.
Which jobs can afford rent in Seminole County?
Based on Florida BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,731/mo. 5 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Seminole County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Seminole County went from $1,064 in FY 2020 to $1,731 in FY 2026, a total change of +62.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Seminole County?
In Seminole County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,731/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 Seminole County?
For Seminole County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,731/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Seminole'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 $1,731 implies about $69,240/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 Seminole 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.