County FMR · HUD FY2026

Transylvania County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Transylvania County, NC - 8% below the US average.

$887
1-bedroom FMR
$1,164
2-bedroom FMR
+1.1%
YoY change
-8%
vs US avg

The verdict

Transylvania is the 41st most expensive of 100 counties in North Carolina by 2-bedroom FMR.

#41
most expensive of 100 in North Carolina (2BR)
-10%
vs the state average
$35,480
income to afford it (30% rule)
+1.1%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.1%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (37.7%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Transylvania County, NC. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Transylvania County, North Carolina at $887 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,164/mo and a studio is $881/mo. This is 8% lower than the national average of $959 and 10% below the North Carolina average of $981.

Rent increased1.1% from FY 2025 ($877), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $35,480/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in North Carolina. Population: 33,131. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.8%, Census ACS). That's slower than North Carolina's statewide growth of +4.2% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Transylvania County

The Transylvania County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and North Carolina'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.

Transylvania County's 1-bedroom rent runs 8% below the US average of $959 and 10% lower than the North Carolina state average of $981. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$877 in FY 2025 to $887 in FY 2026 - a change of +1.1%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $887, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $35,480 per year (about $2,957/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,164 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 33,131 and a county median household income of $64,523, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $932 · US avg: $893
$881/mo
↑ 1.1% YoY -5% vs state -1% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $981 · US avg: $959
$887/mo
↑ 1.1% YoY -10% vs state -8% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,161 · US avg: $1,175
$1,164/mo
↑ 1.2% YoY +0% vs state -1% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,499 · US avg: $1,525
$1,396/mo
↑ 0.7% YoY -7% vs state -8% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,780 · US avg: $1,756
$1,749/mo
↑ 1.2% YoY -2% vs state -0% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $871
$881
+$10 (+1.1%)
1 Bedroom $877
$887
+$10 (+1.1%)
2 Bedroom $1,150
$1,164
+$14 (+1.2%)
3 Bedroom $1,386
$1,396
+$10 (+0.7%)
4 Bedroom $1,729
$1,749
+$20 (+1.2%)

Affordability Snapshot

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

Required annual income for 1 BR
$35,480
$2,957/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$46,560
$3,880/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
16.4%
Affordable
Need $35,240/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
16.5%
Affordable
Need $35,480/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
21.6%
Affordable
Need $46,560/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
26%
Affordable
Need $55,840/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
32.5%
Burdened
Need $69,960/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.

Transylvania County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%21.6%
Transylvania County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $64,523 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View North Carolina rent burden →

Where Transylvania sits among every US county

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

$1,164 Top 35% higher than 65% 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 Transylvania compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other North Carolina counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Transylvania is highlighted. Nearby North Carolina counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Wake County ($1,596), Mecklenburg County ($1,538), Durham County ($1,507), Guilford County ($1,213), Cumberland County ($1,113), Forsyth County ($1,082), Transylvania County (this county) ($887).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $887/mo compares to North Carolina salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation NC Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $131,000 8.1% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $99,190 10.7% Affordable
Registered Nurses $81,860 13% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $80,490 13.2% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $58,030 18.3% Affordable
Electricians $54,070 19.7% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $49,400 21.5% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,580 21.5% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $49,390 21.6% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $39,870 26.7% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,530 26.9% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $32,630 32.6% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $30,090 35.4% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,760 37% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $28,230 37.7% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (North Carolina) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Transylvania (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 55.6% overall, from $570 to $887. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 32.6% (FY 2022), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$500$600$700$800$900$1,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $887
Transylvania County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑1.1% $881 $887 $1,164
FY 2025 ↑2.2% $871 $877 $1,150
FY 2024 ↑13.5% $853 $858 $1,128
FY 2023 ↑6.3% $751 $756 $995
FY 2022 ↑32.6% $706 $711 $935
FY 2021 ↓6.0% $532 $536 $706
FY 2020 $567 $570 $681
Total change (6yr): +55.6%
Annualized: +7.6%/yr
1 BR: $570 → $887

Part of the Brevard, NC Micro Area

Transylvania County is a central county of the Brevard, NC micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in North Carolina

Largest counties by population in North Carolina

Wake County
1 BR: $1,596/mo Pop: 1,132,103
Mecklenburg County
1 BR: $1,538/mo Pop: 1,115,403
Guilford County
1 BR: $1,213/mo Pop: 539,557
Forsyth County
1 BR: $1,082/mo Pop: 383,739
Cumberland County
1 BR: $1,113/mo Pop: 335,207
Durham County
1 BR: $1,507/mo Pop: 325,101
Buncombe County
1 BR: $1,429/mo Pop: 269,449
Union County
1 BR: $1,538/mo Pop: 240,109
View all counties in North Carolina →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Transylvania County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Transylvania County is $887 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,164 and a studio is $881.
How does Transylvania County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Transylvania County is 8% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $887 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Transylvania County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $35,480 ($2,957/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Transylvania County.
Is rent going up or down in Transylvania County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Transylvania County increased by 1.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $877 to $887.
Which jobs can afford rent in Transylvania County? ▼
Based on North Carolina BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $887/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Transylvania County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Transylvania County went from $570 in FY 2020 to $887 in FY 2026, a total change of +55.6% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Transylvania County? ▼
In Transylvania County, the FY 2026 FMR of $887/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 Transylvania County? ▼
For Transylvania County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($887/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Transylvania'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 $887 implies about $35,480/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 Transylvania 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.