County FMR · HUD FY2026

South Central Connecticut Planning Region Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT - 66% above the US average.

$1,591
1-bedroom FMR
$1,969
2-bedroom FMR
+66%
vs US avg

The verdict

South Central Connecticut Planning Region is the 3rd most expensive of 9 counties in Connecticut by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #126 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#126
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#3
most expensive of 9 in Connecticut (2BR)
+0%
vs the state average
$63,640
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (14.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (56.2%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT. Verify with HUD →

South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,591 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,969/mo and a studio is $1,372/mo. That's 66% above the national benchmark of $959 and 0% above the Connecticut average of $1,590.

Clearing the 30% rule here takes $63,640/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Connecticut. Population: 5,280.

FMR filing desk

Area SOUTH·CENTRAL·CONNECTICUT·PLANNING·REGION·CT·CT

South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT: $1,591/mo 1BR · #126 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA CT
  • 1BR-FMR $1,591
  • 2BR-FMR $1,969
  • RANK-UPPER #126
  • YOY-NA YoY pending
  • VSUS-HIGH +66%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +0% CT
  • INC-MID 22%
  • POP-SMALL 5K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Greater Bridgeport
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,432–$1,750
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Greater Bridgeport Planning Region ($509 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,351 · US avg: $893
$1,372/mo
+2% vs state +54% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,590 · US avg: $959
$1,591/mo
+0% vs state +66% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,955 · US avg: $1,175
$1,969/mo
+1% vs state +68% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $2,415 · US avg: $1,525
$2,433/mo
+1% vs state +60% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,852 · US avg: $1,756
$2,872/mo
+1% vs state +64% vs US

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in South Central Connecticut Planning Region. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
19.1%
Affordable
Need $54,880/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
22.1%
Affordable
Need $63,640/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
27.4%
Affordable
Need $78,760/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
33.8%
Burdened
Need $97,320/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
40%
Burdened
Need $114,880/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%27.4%
South Central Connecticut Planning Region 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $86,266 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Connecticut rent burden →

Where South Central Connecticut Planning Region sits among every US county

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

$1,969 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 South Central Connecticut Planning Region compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Connecticut counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows South Central Connecticut Planning Region is highlighted. Nearby Connecticut counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Greater Bridgeport Planning Region ($2,100), Western Connecticut Planning Region ($2,100), South Central Connecticut Planning Region (this county) ($1,591), Naugatuck Valley Planning Region ($1,445).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,591/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Connecticut BLS wages?

Occupation CT Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $130,870 14.6% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $130,230 14.7% Affordable
Registered Nurses $101,590 18.8% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $89,630 21.3% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $82,820 23.1% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $78,740 24.2% Affordable
Electricians $76,790 24.9% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $63,260 30.2% Stretched
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $58,700 32.5% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $47,260 40.4% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $44,190 43.2% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $37,160 51.4% Unaffordable
Janitors & Cleaners $36,800 51.9% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $35,350 54% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $33,980 56.2% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Connecticut) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

6-year Fair Market Rent history for South Central Connecticut Planning Region. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for South Central Connecticut Planning Region (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 36.9% overall, from $1,162 to $1,591. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.8% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$1,100$1,200$1,300$1,400$1,500$1,600$1,700 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2026 $1,591
South Central Connecticut Planning Region 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑15.8% $1,372 $1,591 $1,969
FY 2024 ↑3.0% $1,251 $1,374 $1,676
FY 2023 ↑12.5% $1,200 $1,334 $1,629
FY 2022 ↑0.4% $1,048 $1,186 $1,447
FY 2021 ↑1.6% $1,055 $1,181 $1,438
FY 2020 $1,042 $1,162 $1,407
Total change (6yr): +36.9%
Annualized: +5.4%/yr
1 BR: $1,162 → $1,591

Part of the New Haven, CT Metro Area

South Central Connecticut Planning Region is a central county of the New Haven, CT metropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for South Central Connecticut Planning Region, both outside Connecticut 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 CT (FY2026).

Pierce County
WA · 2 BR $1,971/mo
Orange County
FL · 2 BR $1,972/mo
Seminole County
FL · 2 BR $1,972/mo
Osceola County
FL · 2 BR $1,972/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Latimer County
OK · 27.4% of income · 2 BR $937/mo
Grant County
NM · 27.4% of income · 2 BR $1,048/mo
Webster Parish
LA · 27.4% of income · 2 BR $854/mo
Putnam County
NY · 27.4% of income · 2 BR $2,910/mo

Nearby Counties in Connecticut

Largest counties by population in Connecticut

Showing the 8 largest of 16 other counties in Connecticut.

Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
1 BR: $2,100/mo Pop: 148,012
Western Connecticut Planning Region
1 BR: $2,100/mo Pop: 20,498
Fairfield County
1 BR: -/mo Pop: 19,822
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region
1 BR: $1,445/mo Pop: 18,951
New Haven County
1 BR: -/mo Pop: 18,709
Hartford County
1 BR: -/mo Pop: 18,302
Windham County
1 BR: -/mo Pop: 4,233
Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region
1 BR: $1,304/mo Pop: 4,220
View all counties in Connecticut →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in South Central Connecticut Planning Region? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in South Central Connecticut Planning Region is $1,591 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,969 and a studio is $1,372.
How does South Central Connecticut Planning Region rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in South Central Connecticut Planning Region is 66% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,591 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does South Central Connecticut Planning Region rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, South Central Connecticut Planning Region's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,969 ranks #126 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in South Central Connecticut Planning Region? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $63,640 ($5,303/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in South Central Connecticut Planning Region.
Which jobs can afford rent in South Central Connecticut Planning Region? ▼
Based on Connecticut BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,591/mo. 7 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in South Central Connecticut Planning Region over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in South Central Connecticut Planning Region went from $1,162 in FY 2020 to $1,591 in FY 2026, a total change of +36.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in South Central Connecticut Planning Region? ▼
In South Central Connecticut Planning Region, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,591/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 South Central Connecticut Planning Region? ▼
For South Central Connecticut Planning Region, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,591/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.