County FMR · HUD FY2026

St. Martin Parish Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for St. Martin Parish, LA - 6% below the US average.

$898
1-bedroom FMR
$1,019
2-bedroom FMR
-3.4%
YoY change
-6%
vs US avg

The verdict

St. Martin is the 27th most expensive of 64 counties in Louisiana by 2-bedroom FMR.

#27
most expensive of 64 in Louisiana (2BR)
+8%
vs the state average
$35,920
income to afford it (30% rule)
-3.4%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (46.6%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for St. Martin Parish, LA. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana is $898 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,019/mo and a studio is $779/mo. This is 6% lower than the national average of $959 and 8% above the Louisiana average of $832.

Rent decreased3.4% from FY 2025 ($930), declining against the trend. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $35,920/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Louisiana. Population: 51,856. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-4.1%, Census ACS). That's slower than Louisiana's statewide growth of -0.9% over the same period.

What these rents mean for St. Martin Parish

The St. Martin Parish FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Louisiana'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 6% below the US average of $959 and 8% higher than the Louisiana state average of $832. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$930 in FY 2025 to $898 in FY 2026 - a change of -3.4%, which is unusual and suggests softening demand or revised HUD sampling.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $898, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $35,920 per year (about $2,993/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,019 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 51,856 and a county median household income of $53,394, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $763 · US avg: $893
$779/mo
↑ 5.3% YoY +2% vs state -13% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $832 · US avg: $959
$898/mo
↓ 3.4% YoY +8% vs state -6% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,007 · US avg: $1,175
$1,019/mo
↓ 3.1% YoY +1% vs state -13% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,298 · US avg: $1,525
$1,301/mo
↓ 1.6% YoY +0% vs state -15% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,508 · US avg: $1,756
$1,581/mo
↓ 8.9% YoY +5% vs state -10% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $740
$779
+$39 (+5.3%)
1 Bedroom $930
$898
$-32 (-3.4%)
2 Bedroom $1,052
$1,019
$-33 (-3.1%)
3 Bedroom $1,322
$1,301
$-21 (-1.6%)
4 Bedroom $1,736
$1,581
$-155 (-8.9%)

Affordability Snapshot

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

Required annual income for 1 BR
$35,920
$2,993/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$40,760
$3,397/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in St. Martin Parish. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
17.5%
Affordable
Need $31,160/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
20.2%
Affordable
Need $35,920/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
22.9%
Affordable
Need $40,760/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
29.2%
Affordable
Need $52,040/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
35.5%
Burdened
Need $63,240/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.

St. Martin Parish 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%22.9%
St. Martin Parish 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $53,394 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Louisiana rent burden →

Where St. Martin sits among every US county

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

$1,019 higher than 49% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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 St. Martin compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Louisiana counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows St. Martin is highlighted. Nearby Louisiana counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: St. Tammany Parish ($1,130), Jefferson Parish ($1,113), Orleans Parish ($1,113), East Baton Rouge Parish ($1,064), Caddo Parish ($982), St. Martin Parish (this county) ($898), Lafayette Parish ($898).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $898/mo compares to Louisiana salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation LA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $102,290 10.5% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $102,060 10.6% Affordable
Registered Nurses $78,880 13.7% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $69,540 15.5% Affordable
Electricians $59,590 18.1% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $52,280 20.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $50,580 21.3% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $48,770 22.1% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $47,580 22.6% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $38,700 27.8% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $35,890 30% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $28,820 37.4% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $27,940 38.6% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $27,040 39.9% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $23,110 46.6% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Louisiana) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for St. Martin Parish. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for St. Martin (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 13.0% overall, from $795 to $898. Rent fell in 3 of the last 6 tracked years, including a 11.5% drop in FY 2023 - an unusual multi-year softening rather than the steady increases seen in most US counties.

$750$800$850$900$950 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $898
St. Martin Parish 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓3.4% $779 $898 $1,019
FY 2025 ↑1.0% $740 $930 $1,052
FY 2024 ↑5.7% $701 $921 $1,034
FY 2023 ↑11.5% $658 $871 $984
FY 2022 ↓1.1% $608 $781 $890
FY 2021 ↓0.6% $634 $790 $901
FY 2020 $660 $795 $912
Total change (6yr): +13.0%
Annualized: +2.1%/yr
1 BR: $795 → $898

Part of the Lafayette, LA Metro Area

St. Martin Parish is a outlying county of the Lafayette, LA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 3 other metro-area counties.

St. Martin Parish ranks #2 of 4 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Lafayette Parish ($898), St. Martin Parish (this county) ($898), Vermilion Parish ($761), Acadia Parish ($671).

Lafayette Parish
1 BR: $898/mo
St. Martin Parish (this county)
1 BR: $898/mo
Vermilion Parish
1 BR: $761/mo
Acadia Parish
1 BR: $671/mo

Nearby Counties in Louisiana

Largest counties by population in Louisiana

East Baton Rouge Parish
1 BR: $1,064/mo Pop: 454,369
Jefferson Parish
1 BR: $1,113/mo Pop: 436,171
Orleans Parish
1 BR: $1,113/mo Pop: 380,408
St. Tammany Parish
1 BR: $1,130/mo Pop: 266,168
Lafayette Parish
1 BR: $898/mo Pop: 243,175
Caddo Parish
1 BR: $982/mo Pop: 236,259
Calcasieu Parish
1 BR: $928/mo Pop: 210,770
Ouachita Parish
1 BR: $793/mo Pop: 159,585
View all counties in Louisiana →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in St. Martin Parish? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in St. Martin Parish is $898 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,019 and a studio is $779.
How does St. Martin Parish rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in St. Martin Parish is 6% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $898 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in St. Martin Parish? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $35,920 ($2,993/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in St. Martin Parish.
Is rent going up or down in St. Martin Parish? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in St. Martin Parish decreased by 3.4% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $930 to $898.
Which jobs can afford rent in St. Martin Parish? ▼
Based on Louisiana BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $898/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in St. Martin Parish over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in St. Martin Parish went from $795 in FY 2020 to $898 in FY 2026, a total change of +13.0% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in St. Martin Parish? ▼
In St. Martin Parish, the FY 2026 FMR of $898/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 St. Martin Parish? ▼
For St. Martin Parish, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($898/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat St. Martin'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 $898 implies about $35,920/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 St. Martin 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.

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.