County FMR · HUD FY2026

Tulare County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Tulare County, CA - 17% above the US average.

Compiled by PlainRent Editorial, Fair Market Rent Editorial Team · May 15, 2026

$1,123
1-bedroom FMR: $1,474
2-bedroom FMR: +3.1%
YoY change: +17%
vs US avg

The verdict

Tulare is the 14th cheapest of 58 counties in California by 2-bedroom FMR.

#14
cheapest of 58 in California (2BR): -32%
vs the state average: $44,920
income to afford it (30% rule): +3.1%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (36.4%); nearby California counties range as much as 68% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Tulare County, CA. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Tulare County, California at $1,123 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,474/mo and a studio is $1,116/mo. This is 17% higher than the national average of $959 and 32% below the California average of $1,647.

Rent increased3.1% from FY 2025 ($1,089), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $44,920/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in California. Population: 473,446. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.3%, Census ACS). That's faster than California's statewide growth of +0.2% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Tulare County

The Tulare County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and California'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.

Tulare County's 1-bedroom rent runs 17% above the US average of $959 and 32% lower than the California state average of $1,647. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$1,089 in FY 2025 to $1,123 in FY 2026 - a change of +3.1%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,123, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $44,920 per year (about $3,743/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,474 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 473,446 and a county median household income of $69,489, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio

State avg: $1,513 · US avg: $893

$1,116/mo

↑ 3.1% YoY -26% vs state +25% vs US

1 Bedroom

State avg: $1,647 · US avg: $959

$1,123/mo

↑ 3.1% YoY -32% vs state +17% vs US

2 Bedroom

State avg: $2,053 · US avg: $1,175

$1,474/mo

↑ 3.1% YoY -28% vs state +25% vs US

3 Bedroom

State avg: $2,752 · US avg: $1,525

$2,028/mo

↑ 3.1% YoY -26% vs state +33% vs US

4 Bedroom

State avg: $3,165 · US avg: $1,756

$2,393/mo

↑ 5.3% YoY -24% vs state +36% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms	FY 2025	FY 2026	Change	vs State	vs US
Studio	$1,082	$1,116	+$34 (+3.1%)	-26%	+25%
1 Bedroom	$1,089	$1,123	+$34 (+3.1%)	-32%	+17%
2 Bedroom	$1,429	$1,474	+$45 (+3.1%)	-28%	+25%
3 Bedroom	$1,967	$2,028	+$61 (+3.1%)	-26%	+33%
4 Bedroom	$2,272	$2,393	+$121 (+5.3%)	-24%	+36%

Affordability Snapshot

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

Required annual income for 1 BR

$44,920

$3,743/month gross

Required annual income for 2 BR

$58,960

$4,913/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio

19.3%

Affordable

Need $44,640/yr for 30% rule

1 Bedroom

19.4%

Affordable

Need $44,920/yr for 30% rule

2 Bedroom

25.5%

Affordable

Need $58,960/yr for 30% rule

3 Bedroom

35%

Burdened

Need $81,120/yr for 30% rule

4 Bedroom

41.3%

Burdened

Need $95,720/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.

Tulare County 2-bedroom rent burden

County median income: $69,489 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View California rent burden →

Where Tulare sits among every US county

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

$1,474 Top 15% higher than 85% 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

Santa Clara

$2,982
Orange

$2,746
San Diego

$2,459
Los Angeles

$2,085
Riverside

$1,777
San Bernardino

$1,777
Tulare

$1,123

What this shows Tulare is highlighted. Nearby California counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Santa Clara County ($2,982), Orange County ($2,746), San Diego County ($2,459), Los Angeles County ($2,085), Riverside County ($1,777), San Bernardino County ($1,777), Tulare County (this county) ($1,123).

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,123/mo compares to California salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation	CA Salary	Rent Burden	Verdict
Software Developers	$170,910	7.9%	Affordable
Registered Nurses	$140,330	9.6%	Affordable
General & Operations Managers	$125,240	10.8%	Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$115,400	11.7%	Affordable
Elementary School Teachers	$98,190	13.7%	Affordable
Accountants & Auditors	$96,360	14%	Affordable
Electricians	$76,540	17.6%	Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants	$72,960	18.5%	Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	$59,950	22.5%	Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians	$49,640	27.1%	Affordable
Customer Service Representatives	$47,790	28.2%	Affordable
Teaching Assistants	$45,460	29.6%	Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners	$38,640	34.9%	Stretched
Retail Salespersons	$37,250	36.2%	Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers	$37,010	36.4%	Stretched

Salaries: BLS OES (California) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Tulare (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 57.3% overall, from $714 to $1,123. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.6% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

Tulare County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026

Year	Studio	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
FY 2026 ↑3.1%	$1,116	$1,123	$1,474	$2,028	$2,393
FY 2025 ↑10.1%	$1,082	$1,089	$1,429	$1,967	$2,272
FY 2024 ↑16.6%	$977	$989	$1,299	$1,809	$2,065
FY 2023 ↑11.0%	$825	$848	$1,116	$1,552	$1,790
FY 2022 ↑4.9%	$746	$764	$1,005	$1,405	$1,629
FY 2021 ↑2.0%	$723	$728	$959	$1,337	$1,561
FY 2020	$710	$714	$941	$1,312	$1,534

Total change (6yr): +57.3%

Annualized: +7.8%/yr

1 BR: $714 → $1,123

Part of the Visalia, CA Metro Area

Tulare County is a central county of the Visalia, CA metropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in California

Largest counties by population in California

Los Angeles County

1 BR: $2,085/mo Pop: 9,936,690

San Diego County

1 BR: $2,459/mo Pop: 3,289,701

Orange County

1 BR: $2,746/mo Pop: 3,175,227

Riverside County

1 BR: $1,777/mo Pop: 2,429,487

San Bernardino County

1 BR: $1,777/mo Pop: 2,180,563

Santa Clara County

1 BR: $2,982/mo Pop: 1,916,831

Alameda County

1 BR: $2,385/mo Pop: 1,663,823

Sacramento County

1 BR: $1,832/mo Pop: 1,579,211

Compare Tulare County against

View all counties in California →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Tulare County? ▼

The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Tulare County is $1,123 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,474 and a studio is $1,116.

How does Tulare County rent compare to the national average? ▼

Rent in Tulare County is 17% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,123 compared to $959 nationally.

What income do I need to afford rent in Tulare County? ▼

Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $44,920 ($3,743/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Tulare County.

Is rent going up or down in Tulare County? ▼

The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Tulare County increased by 3.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,089 to $1,123.

Which jobs can afford rent in Tulare County? ▼

Based on California BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,123/mo. 12 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.

How much has rent changed in Tulare County over time? ▼

The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Tulare County went from $714 in FY 2020 to $1,123 in FY 2026, a total change of +57.3% over 6 years.

How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Tulare County? ▼

In Tulare County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,123/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 Tulare County? ▼

For Tulare County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,123/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Tulare'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 $1,123 implies about $44,920/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 Tulare 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.