County FMR · HUD FY2026

Seward County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Seward County, NE - 21% below the US average.

$756
1-bedroom FMR
$967
2-bedroom FMR
+5.3%
YoY change
-21%
vs US avg

The verdict

Seward is the 27th most expensive of 93 counties in Nebraska by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #976 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 5.3% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#976
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#27
most expensive of 93 in Nebraska (2BR)
-4%
vs the state average
$30,240
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.8%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (32.6%); 13 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 Seward County, NE. Verify with HUD →

Seward County, Nebraska carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $756 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $967/mo and a studio is $730/mo. That's 21% below the national benchmark of $959 and 4% below the Nebraska average of $791.

Rent increased5.3% from FY 2025 ($718), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $30,240/year.

Observed renter burden: 35.1% of the 1,855 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.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Nebraska. Population: 17,644. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.0%, Census ACS). That's in line with Nebraska's statewide growth of +3.2% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area SEWARD·COUNTY·NE·NE

Seward County, NE: $756/mo 1BR · #976 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA NE
  • 1BR-FMR $756
  • 2BR-FMR $967
  • RANK-MID #976
  • YOY-SURGE +5.3%
  • VSUS-BELOW -21%
  • VS-ST-NEAR -4% NE
  • INC-ROOM 11%
  • POP-SMALL 18K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Douglas County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $680–$832
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Douglas ($392 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $706 · US avg: $893
$730/mo
↑ 6.4% YoY +3% vs state -18% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $791 · US avg: $959
$756/mo
↑ 5.3% YoY -4% vs state -21% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,001 · US avg: $1,175
$967/mo
↑ 2.7% YoY -3% vs state -18% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,274 · US avg: $1,525
$1,345/mo
↑ 1.9% YoY +6% vs state -12% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,409 · US avg: $1,756
$1,450/mo
↓ 1.8% YoY +3% vs state -17% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $686
$730
+$44 (+6.4%)
1 Bedroom $718
$756
+$38 (+5.3%)
2 Bedroom $942
$967
+$25 (+2.7%)
3 Bedroom $1,320
$1,345
+$25 (+1.9%)
4 Bedroom $1,477
$1,450
$-27 (-1.8%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
10.8%
Affordable
Need $29,200/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
11.2%
Affordable
Need $30,240/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
14.3%
Affordable
Need $38,680/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
19.9%
Affordable
Need $53,800/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
21.4%
Affordable
Need $58,000/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.

0%100%National avg22%14.3%
Seward County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $81,122 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Nebraska rent burden →

Where Seward sits among every US county

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

$967 higher than 31% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Above this entry. $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 Seward compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Nebraska counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Seward is highlighted. Nearby Nebraska counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Douglas County ($1,148), Sarpy County ($1,148), Hall County ($978), Lancaster County ($926), Buffalo County ($863), Dodge County ($861), Seward County (this county) ($756).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $756/mo, most of these Nebraska occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation NE Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $116,420 7.8% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $82,570 11% Affordable
Registered Nurses $81,020 11.2% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $72,160 12.6% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $69,980 13% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $61,700 14.7% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $61,410 14.8% Affordable
Electricians $60,020 15.1% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $57,940 15.7% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $41,400 21.9% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $40,790 22.2% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $35,820 25.3% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $30,350 29.9% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $29,420 30.8% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $27,840 32.6% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Nebraska) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Seward (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 37.0% overall, from $552 to $756. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 8.9% (FY 2024).

$500$550$600$650$700$750$800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $756
Seward County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑5.3% $730 $756 $967
FY 2025 ↑3.3% $686 $718 $942
FY 2024 ↑8.9% $656 $695 $910
FY 2023 ↑6.7% $580 $638 $827
FY 2022 ↑7.4% $503 $598 $757
FY 2021 ↑0.9% $484 $557 $734
FY 2020 $525 $552 $727
Total change (6yr): +37.0%
Annualized: +5.4%/yr
1 BR: $552 → $756

Part of the Lincoln, NE Metro Area

Seward County is a outlying county of the Lincoln, NE metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.

Seward County ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Lancaster County ($926), Seward County (this county) ($756).

Lancaster County
1 BR: $926/mo
Seward County (this county)
1 BR: $756/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Seward County, both outside Nebraska 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 NE (FY2026).

Noble County
IN · 2 BR $967/mo
Assumption Parish
LA · 2 BR $967/mo
Montgomery County
IN · 2 BR $966/mo
Cedar County
IA · 2 BR $966/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside NE).

Thomas County
KS · 14.3% of income · 2 BR $877/mo
Le Sueur County
MN · 14.3% of income · 2 BR $1,078/mo
Trego County
KS · 14.3% of income · 2 BR $877/mo
Worth County
IA · 14.3% of income · 2 BR $919/mo

Nearby Counties in Nebraska

Largest counties by population in Nebraska

Showing the 8 largest of 92 other counties in Nebraska.

Douglas County
1 BR: $1,148/mo Pop: 582,638
Lancaster County
1 BR: $926/mo Pop: 322,063
Sarpy County
1 BR: $1,148/mo Pop: 191,272
Hall County
1 BR: $978/mo Pop: 62,575
Buffalo County
1 BR: $863/mo Pop: 50,103
Dodge County
1 BR: $861/mo Pop: 37,175
Scotts Bluff County
1 BR: $758/mo Pop: 36,048
Madison County
1 BR: $758/mo Pop: 35,538
View all counties in Nebraska →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Seward County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Seward County is $756 per month. A 2-bedroom is $967 and a studio is $730.
How does Seward County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Seward County is 21% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $756 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Seward County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Seward County's 2-bedroom FMR of $967 ranks #976 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Seward County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $30,240 ($2,520/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Seward County.
Is rent going up or down in Seward County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Seward County increased by 5.3% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $718 to $756.
Which jobs can afford rent in Seward County? ▼
Based on Nebraska BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $756/mo. 13 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Seward County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Seward County went from $552 in FY 2020 to $756 in FY 2026, a total change of +37.0% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Seward County? ▼
In Seward County, the FY 2026 FMR of $756/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 Seward County? ▼
For Seward County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($756/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.