County FMR · HUD FY2026
Sierra County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Sierra County, CA - 21% above the US average.
- $1,165
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,529
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +5.8%
- YoY change
- +21%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Sierra is the 19th cheapest of 58 counties in California by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 5.8% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #19
- cheapest of 58 in California (2BR)
- -29%
- vs the state average
- $46,600
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +5.8%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (37.8%); nearby California counties range as much as 68% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Sierra County, CA. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Sierra County, California is $1,165 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,529/mo and a studio is $1,068/mo. This is 21% higher than the national average of $959 and 29% below the California average of $1,647.
Rent increased5.8% from FY 2025 ($1,101), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $46,600/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in California. Population: 2,916. Population declined 6.8% over the past five years (Census ACS), a trend that can ease rental-market pressure over time even as FMR reflects recent rent levels. That's slower than California's statewide growth of +0.2% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Sierra County
The Sierra County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and California'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 21% above the US average of $959 and 29% lower than the California state average of $1,647. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$1,101 in FY 2025 to $1,165 in FY 2026 - a change of +5.8%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,165, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $46,600 per year (about $3,883/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,529 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 2,916 and a county median household income of $60,000, 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 | $1,003 | $1,068 | +$65 (+6.5%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,101 | $1,165 | +$64 (+5.8%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,445 | $1,529 | +$84 (+5.8%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,025 | $2,126 | +$101 (+5.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,396 | $2,527 | +$131 (+5.5%) |
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 Sierra 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.
Sierra County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Sierra sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,529 Top 14% higher than 86% 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 Sierra compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other California counties
- Santa Clara
Santa Clara County
$2,982 1BR FMR / mo
- Orange
Orange County
$2,746 1BR FMR / mo
- San Diego
San Diego County
$2,459 1BR FMR / mo
- Los Angeles
Los Angeles County
$2,085 1BR FMR / mo
- Riverside
Riverside County
$1,777 1BR FMR / mo
- San Bernardino
San Bernardino County
$1,777 1BR FMR / mo
- Sierra $1,165
Sierra County
$1,165 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Sierra is highlighted. Nearby California counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Santa Clara County ($2,982), Orange County ($2,746), San Diego County ($2,459), Los Angeles County ($2,085), Riverside County ($1,777), San Bernardino County ($1,777), Sierra County (this county) ($1,165).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,165/mo compares to California salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | CA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $170,910 | 8.2% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $140,330 | 10% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $125,240 | 11.2% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $115,400 | 12.1% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $98,190 | 14.2% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $96,360 | 14.5% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $76,540 | 18.3% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $72,960 | 19.2% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,950 | 23.3% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $49,640 | 28.2% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $47,790 | 29.3% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $45,460 | 30.8% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $38,640 | 36.2% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $37,250 | 37.5% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $37,010 | 37.8% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Sierra County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Sierra (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 19.5% overall, from $975 to $1,165. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 16.1% (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 ↑5.8% | $1,068 | $1,165 | $1,529 |
| FY 2025 ↑9.6% | $1,003 | $1,101 | $1,445 |
| FY 2024 ↑16.1% | $911 | $1,005 | $1,321 |
| FY 2023 ↑1.3% | $774 | $866 | $1,138 |
| FY 2022 ↓9.9% | $754 | $855 | $1,114 |
| FY 2021 ↓2.7% | $837 | $949 | $1,237 |
| FY 2020 | $858 | $975 | $1,270 |
Where Sierra County Ranks in California
Sierra 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 #19 of 58 counties in California. Nearest by rank: Plumas County ($1,411), Mariposa County ($1,454), Kings County ($1,469), Tulare County ($1,474), Kern County ($1,483), Merced County ($1,503), Inyo County ($1,514), Alpine County ($1,529), Sierra County (this county) ($1,529), Calaveras County ($1,542), Lake County ($1,549), Humboldt County ($1,550), Sutter County ($1,550), Yuba County ($1,550), Tuolumne County ($1,589), Shasta County ($1,590), Butte County ($1,625).
Nearby Counties in California
Largest counties by population in California
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Sierra County? ▼
How does Sierra County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Sierra County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Sierra County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Sierra County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Sierra County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Sierra County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Sierra County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Sierra'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 $1,165 implies about $46,600/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 Sierra 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.