County FMR · HUD FY2026
St. Mary's County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for St. Mary's County, MD - 74% above the US average.
- $1,672
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,833
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +3.0%
- YoY change
- +74%
- vs US avg
The verdict
St. Mary's is the 12th cheapest of 24 counties in Maryland by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #189 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #189
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #12
- cheapest of 24 in Maryland (2BR)
- +19%
- vs the state average
- $66,880
- 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 (64.3%); only 6 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 St. Mary's County, MD. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for St. Mary's County, Maryland at $1,672 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,833/mo and a studio is $1,394/mo. This is 74% higher than the national average of $959 and 19% above the Maryland average of $1,404.
Rent increased3.0% from FY 2025 ($1,624), outpacing inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $66,880/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.
Observed renter burden: 42.1% of the 11,418 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.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 5.1%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.7% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Maryland. Population: 113,814. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.5%, Census ACS). That's in line with Maryland's statewide growth of +2.8% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area ST·MARY·S·COUNTY·MD·MD
St. Mary's County, MD: $1,672/mo 1BR · #189 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA MD
- 1BR-FMR $1,672
- 2BR-FMR $1,833
- RANK-UPPER #189
- YOY-UP +3.0%
- VSUS-HIGH +74%
- VS-ST-HIGH +19% MD
- INC-ROOM 18%
- POP-MID 114K
- PHOTO-NEAR Montgomery County
- VOUCH-90-110 $1,505–$1,839
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Montgomery ($343 1BR gap)
Read with: Understanding rent burden
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,493 | $1,394 | $-99 (-6.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,624 | $1,672 | +$48 (+3.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,831 | $1,833 | +$2 (+0.1%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,285 | $2,264 | $-21 (-0.9%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,818 | $2,889 | +$71 (+2.5%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in St. Mary's 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.
Where St. Mary's sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,833 Top 6% higher than 94% 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 St. Mary's compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Maryland counties
- Montgomery
Montgomery County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Prince George's
Prince George's County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Mary's
St. Mary's County
$1,672 1BR FMR / mo
- Baltimore
Baltimore County
$1,511 1BR FMR / mo
- Anne Arundel
Anne Arundel County
$1,511 1BR FMR / mo
- Baltimore city
Baltimore city
$1,511 1BR FMR / mo
- Howard
Howard County
$1,511 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows St. Mary's is highlighted. Nearby Maryland counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Montgomery County ($2,015), Prince George's County ($2,015), St. Mary's County (this county) ($1,672), Baltimore County ($1,511), Anne Arundel County ($1,511), Baltimore city ($1,511), Howard County ($1,511).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,672/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Maryland BLS wages?
| Occupation | MD Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $137,890 | 14.6% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $105,320 | 19.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $96,830 | 20.7% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $84,890 | 23.6% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $77,440 | 25.9% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $74,720 | 26.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $65,650 | 30.6% | Stretched |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $63,560 | 31.6% | Stretched |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,180 | 35.1% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $43,100 | 46.6% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $40,310 | 49.8% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,090 | 55.6% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $35,700 | 56.2% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $34,310 | 58.5% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $31,200 | 64.3% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for St. Mary's County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for St. Mary's (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 53.3% overall, from $1,091 to $1,672. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +17.5% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑3.0% | $1,394 | $1,672 | $1,833 |
| FY 2025 ↑8.8% | $1,493 | $1,624 | $1,831 |
| FY 2024 ↑12.8% | $1,470 | $1,492 | $1,755 |
| FY 2023 ↑17.5% | $1,304 | $1,323 | $1,597 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.2% | $1,058 | $1,126 | $1,372 |
| FY 2021 ↑1.0% | $891 | $1,102 | $1,343 |
| FY 2020 | $865 | $1,091 | $1,328 |
Part of the Lexington Park, MD Metro Area
St. Mary's County is a central county of the Lexington Park, MD metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.
St. Mary's County ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Calvert County ($1,851), St. Mary's County (this county) ($1,672).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for St. Mary's County, both outside Maryland 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 MD (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MD).
Nearby Counties in Maryland
Largest counties by population in Maryland
Showing the 8 largest of 23 other counties in Maryland.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in St. Mary's County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in St. Mary's County is $1,672 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,833 and a studio is $1,394.
How does St. Mary's County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in St. Mary's County is 74% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,672 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does St. Mary's County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, St. Mary's County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,833 ranks #189 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 St. Mary's County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $66,880 ($5,573/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in St. Mary's County.
Is rent going up or down in St. Mary's County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in St. Mary's County increased by 3.0% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,624 to $1,672.
Which jobs can afford rent in St. Mary's County?
Based on Maryland BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,672/mo. 6 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in St. Mary's County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in St. Mary's County went from $1,091 in FY 2020 to $1,672 in FY 2026, a total change of +53.3% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in St. Mary's County?
In St. Mary's County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,672/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. Mary's County?
For St. Mary's County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,672/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in St. Mary's County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 5.1%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in St. Mary's County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.7% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat St. Mary's's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,672 implies about $66,880/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Maryland counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Montgomery
- See where St. Mary's ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.