County FMR · HUD FY2026

Stewart County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Stewart County, GA - 12% below the US average.

$843
1-bedroom FMR
$973
2-bedroom FMR
+3.2%
YoY change
-12%
vs US avg

The verdict

Stewart is the 43rd cheapest of 159 counties in Georgia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #976 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.

#976
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#43
cheapest of 159 in Georgia (2BR)
-18%
vs the state average
$33,720
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (38.4%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Stewart County, GA. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Stewart County, Georgia at $843 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $973/mo and a studio is $803/mo. This is 12% lower than the national average of $959 and 18% below the Georgia average of $1,023.

Rent increased3.2% from FY 2025 ($817), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $33,720/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 36.9% of the 731 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 Georgia. Population: 5,121. Population declined 17.6% 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 Georgia's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area STEWART·COUNTY·GA·GA

Stewart County, GA: $843/mo 1BR · #976 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA GA
  • 1BR-FMR $843
  • 2BR-FMR $973
  • RANK-MID #976
  • YOY-UP +3.2%
  • VSUS-BELOW -12%
  • VS-ST-LOW -18% GA
  • INC-EDGE 29%
  • POP-SMALL 5K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Fulton County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $759–$927
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Fulton ($817 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $979 · US avg: $893
$803/mo
↑ 4.3% YoY -18% vs state -10% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,023 · US avg: $959
$843/mo
↑ 3.2% YoY -18% vs state -12% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,203 · US avg: $1,175
$973/mo
↑ 0.9% YoY -19% vs state -17% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,524 · US avg: $1,525
$1,293/mo
↑ 11.4% YoY -15% vs state -15% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,775 · US avg: $1,756
$1,351/mo
↑ 5.7% YoY -24% vs state -23% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $770
$803
+$33 (+4.3%)
1 Bedroom $817
$843
+$26 (+3.2%)
2 Bedroom $964
$973
+$9 (+0.9%)
3 Bedroom $1,161
$1,293
+$132 (+11.4%)
4 Bedroom $1,278
$1,351
+$73 (+5.7%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
27.5%
Affordable
Need $32,120/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
28.9%
Affordable
Need $33,720/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
33.4%
Burdened
Need $38,920/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
44.3%
Burdened
Need $51,720/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
46.3%
Burdened
Need $54,040/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%33.4%
Stewart County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $35,000 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Georgia rent burden →

Where Stewart sits among every US county

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

$973 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 Stewart compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Georgia counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Stewart is highlighted. Nearby Georgia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fulton County ($1,660), Gwinnett County ($1,660), Cobb County ($1,660), DeKalb County ($1,660), Clayton County ($1,660), Chatham County ($1,533), Stewart County (this county) ($843).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $843/mo compares to Georgia salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation GA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $128,920 7.8% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $99,800 10.1% Affordable
Registered Nurses $86,560 11.7% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $80,100 12.6% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $63,490 15.9% Affordable
Electricians $58,860 17.2% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $56,570 17.9% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $56,350 18% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $55,120 18.4% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,030 25.9% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $38,390 26.4% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $33,130 30.5% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $29,770 34% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $27,860 36.3% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $26,310 38.4% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Georgia) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Stewart (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 70.6% overall, from $494 to $843. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +21.2% in FY 2025, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$400$500$600$700$800$900 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $843
Stewart County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑3.2% $803 $843 $973
FY 2025 ↑21.2% $770 $817 $964
FY 2024 ↑15.0% $669 $674 $885
FY 2023 ↑9.5% $583 $586 $772
FY 2022 ↑8.7% $532 $535 $704
FY 2021 ↓0.4% $488 $492 $648
FY 2020 $491 $494 $651
Total change (6yr): +70.6%
Annualized: +9.3%/yr
1 BR: $494 → $843

Part of the Columbus, GA-AL Metro Area

Stewart County is a outlying county of the Columbus, GA-AL metropolitan statistical area, alongside 6 other metro-area counties.

Stewart County ranks #7 of 7 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Muscogee County ($939), Russell County ($939), Harris County ($939), Chattahoochee County ($939), Marion County ($939), Talbot County ($843), Stewart County (this county) ($843).

Muscogee County
1 BR: $939/mo
Russell County
1 BR: $939/mo
Harris County
1 BR: $939/mo
Chattahoochee County
1 BR: $939/mo
Marion County
1 BR: $939/mo
Talbot County
1 BR: $843/mo
Stewart County (this county)
1 BR: $843/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Stewart County, both outside Georgia 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 GA (FY2026).

Mahoning County
OH · 2 BR $973/mo
Trumbull County
OH · 2 BR $973/mo
Richland County
OH · 2 BR $973/mo
Columbiana County
OH · 2 BR $973/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Palm Beach County
FL · 33.3% of income · 2 BR $2,254/mo
New York County
NY · 33.4% of income · 2 BR $2,910/mo
Gates County
NC · 33.3% of income · 2 BR $1,709/mo
Owsley County
KY · 33.5% of income · 2 BR $866/mo

Nearby Counties in Georgia

Largest counties by population in Georgia

Showing the 8 largest of 158 other counties in Georgia.

Fulton County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 1,061,944
Gwinnett County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 957,977
Cobb County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 765,813
DeKalb County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 761,209
Clayton County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 296,312
Chatham County
1 BR: $1,533/mo Pop: 296,266
Cherokee County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 268,567
Forsyth County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 253,225
View all counties in Georgia →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Stewart County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Stewart County is $843 per month. A 2-bedroom is $973 and a studio is $803.
How does Stewart County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Stewart County is 12% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $843 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Stewart County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Stewart County's 2-bedroom FMR of $973 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 Stewart County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $33,720 ($2,810/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Stewart County.
Is rent going up or down in Stewart County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Stewart County increased by 3.2% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $817 to $843.
Which jobs can afford rent in Stewart County? ▼
Based on Georgia BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $843/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Stewart County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Stewart County went from $494 in FY 2020 to $843 in FY 2026, a total change of +70.6% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Stewart County? ▼
In Stewart County, the FY 2026 FMR of $843/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 Stewart County? ▼
For Stewart County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($843/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.