County FMR · HUD FY2026

Taos County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Taos County, NM - 12% above the US average.

$1,072
1-bedroom FMR
$1,279
2-bedroom FMR
+14.8%
YoY change
+12%
vs US avg

The verdict

Taos is the 8th most expensive of 33 counties in New Mexico by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #786 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 14.8% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#786
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#8
most expensive of 33 in New Mexico (2BR)
+16%
vs the state average
$42,880
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (44.9%); nearby New Mexico counties range as much as 57% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Taos County, NM. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Taos County, New Mexico at $1,072 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,279/mo and a studio is $908/mo. This is 12% higher than the national average of $959 and 16% above the New Mexico average of $927.

Rent increased14.8% from FY 2025 ($934), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $42,880/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 46.7% of the 3,060 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 New Mexico. Population: 34,475. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+5.0%, Census ACS). That's faster than New Mexico's statewide growth of +1.1% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area TAOS·COUNTY·NM·NM

Taos County, NM: $1,072/mo 1BR · #786 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA NM
  • 1BR-FMR $1,072
  • 2BR-FMR $1,279
  • RANK-MID #786
  • YOY-SURGE +14.8%
  • VSUS-ABOVE +12%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +16% NM
  • INC-MID 22%
  • POP-SMALL 34K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Bernalillo County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $965–$1,179
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Bernalillo ($113 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $828 · US avg: $893
$908/mo
↑ 12.4% YoY +10% vs state +2% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $927 · US avg: $959
$1,072/mo
↑ 14.8% YoY +16% vs state +12% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,129 · US avg: $1,175
$1,279/mo
↑ 19.5% YoY +13% vs state +9% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,496 · US avg: $1,525
$1,593/mo
↑ 16.4% YoY +6% vs state +4% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,758 · US avg: $1,756
$2,146/mo
↑ 19.4% YoY +22% vs state +22% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $808
$908
+$100 (+12.4%)
1 Bedroom $934
$1,072
+$138 (+14.8%)
2 Bedroom $1,070
$1,279
+$209 (+19.5%)
3 Bedroom $1,368
$1,593
+$225 (+16.4%)
4 Bedroom $1,797
$2,146
+$349 (+19.4%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
18.5%
Affordable
Need $36,320/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
21.8%
Affordable
Need $42,880/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
26.1%
Affordable
Need $51,160/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
32.5%
Burdened
Need $63,720/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
43.7%
Burdened
Need $85,840/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%26.1%
Taos County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $58,908 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View New Mexico rent burden →

Where Taos sits among every US county

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

$1,279 Top 25% higher than 75% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Taos compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other New Mexico counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Taos is highlighted. Nearby New Mexico counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Santa Fe County ($1,390), Bernalillo County ($1,185), Sandoval County ($1,185), Valencia County ($1,185), Taos County (this county) ($1,072), Dona Ana County ($951), San Juan County ($885).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,072/mo compares to New Mexico salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation NM Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $120,820 10.6% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $100,200 12.8% Affordable
Registered Nurses $88,260 14.6% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,420 16.6% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $65,510 19.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $63,340 20.3% Affordable
Electricians $56,890 22.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $56,620 22.7% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $48,360 26.6% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $44,970 28.6% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $38,060 33.8% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $33,640 38.2% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $31,360 41% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $30,350 42.4% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,650 44.9% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (New Mexico) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Taos (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 47.5% overall, from $727 to $1,072. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 14.9% (FY 2023), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$600$700$800$900$1,000$1,100 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,072
Taos County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑14.8% $908 $1,072 $1,279
FY 2025 ↑1.4% $808 $934 $1,070
FY 2024 ↑13.8% $845 $921 $1,050
FY 2023 ↑14.9% $769 $809 $937
FY 2022 ↓7.4% $700 $704 $836
FY 2021 ↑4.5% $756 $760 $920
FY 2020 $722 $727 $875
Total change (6yr): +47.5%
Annualized: +6.7%/yr
1 BR: $727 → $1,072

Part of the Taos, NM Micro Area

Taos County is a central county of the Taos, NM micropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Taos County, both outside New Mexico 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 NM (FY2026).

Cuyahoga County
OH · 2 BR $1,279/mo
Lorain County
OH · 2 BR $1,279/mo
Lake County
OH · 2 BR $1,279/mo
Medina County
OH · 2 BR $1,279/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Livingston County
NY · 26% of income · 2 BR $1,573/mo
Berkeley County
SC · 26% of income · 2 BR $1,787/mo
Colonial Heights city
VA · 26% of income · 2 BR $1,655/mo
Caldwell County
MO · 26.1% of income · 2 BR $1,358/mo

Nearby Counties in New Mexico

Largest counties by population in New Mexico

Showing the 8 largest of 32 other counties in New Mexico.

Bernalillo County
1 BR: $1,185/mo Pop: 674,692
Dona Ana County
1 BR: $951/mo Pop: 219,870
Santa Fe County
1 BR: $1,390/mo Pop: 154,481
Sandoval County
1 BR: $1,185/mo Pop: 149,460
San Juan County
1 BR: $885/mo Pop: 121,798
Valencia County
1 BR: $1,185/mo Pop: 76,613
Lea County
1 BR: $1,068/mo Pop: 73,103
McKinley County
1 BR: $894/mo Pop: 72,073
View all counties in New Mexico →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Taos County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Taos County is $1,072 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,279 and a studio is $908.
How does Taos County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Taos County is 12% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,072 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Taos County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Taos County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,279 ranks #786 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Taos County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $42,880 ($3,573/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Taos County.
Is rent going up or down in Taos County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Taos County increased by 14.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $934 to $1,072.
Which jobs can afford rent in Taos County? ▼
Based on New Mexico BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,072/mo. 10 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Taos County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Taos County went from $727 in FY 2020 to $1,072 in FY 2026, a total change of +47.5% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Taos County? ▼
In Taos County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,072/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 Taos County? ▼
For Taos County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,072/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.