County FMR · HUD FY2026
Tuolumne County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Tuolumne County, CA - 31% above the US average.
- $1,257
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,589
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +11.9%
- YoY change
- +31%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Tuolumne is the 25th cheapest of 58 counties in California by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #409 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 11.9% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #409
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #25
- cheapest of 58 in California (2BR)
- -24%
- vs the state average
- $50,280
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (40.8%); 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 Tuolumne County, CA. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Tuolumne County, California is $1,257 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,589/mo and a studio is $1,096/mo. This is 31% higher than the national average of $959 and 24% below the California average of $1,647.
Rent increased11.9% from FY 2025 ($1,123), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $50,280/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
Observed renter burden: 54.5% of the 5,897 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 5.8%, 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 5.4% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in California. Population: 54,993. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.7%, Census ACS). That's faster than California's statewide growth of +0.2% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area TUOLUMNE·COUNTY·CA·CA
Tuolumne County, CA: $1,257/mo 1BR · #409 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA CA
- 1BR-FMR $1,257
- 2BR-FMR $1,589
- RANK-MID #409
- YOY-SURGE +11.9%
- VSUS-HIGH +31%
- VS-ST-LOW -24% CA
- INC-MID 21%
- POP-MID 55K
- PHOTO-NEAR Los Angeles County
- VOUCH-90-110 $1,131–$1,383
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Los Angeles ($828 1BR gap)
Read with: Understanding rent burden
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $987 | $1,096 | +$109 (+11.0%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,123 | $1,257 | +$134 (+11.9%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,439 | $1,589 | +$150 (+10.4%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,891 | $2,078 | +$187 (+9.9%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,416 | $2,666 | +$250 (+10.3%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Tuolumne 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 Tuolumne sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,589 Top 13% higher than 87% 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 Tuolumne compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other California counties
- Santa Clara
Santa Clara County
$2,982 1BR FMR / mo
- Orange
Orange County
$2,746 1BR FMR / mo
- San Diego
San Diego County
$2,459 1BR FMR / mo
- Los Angeles
Los Angeles County
$2,085 1BR FMR / mo
- Riverside
Riverside County
$1,777 1BR FMR / mo
- San Bernardino
San Bernardino County
$1,777 1BR FMR / mo
- Tuolumne
Tuolumne County
$1,257 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Tuolumne 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), Tuolumne County (this county) ($1,257).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,257/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using California BLS wages?
| Occupation | CA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $170,910 | 8.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $140,330 | 10.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $125,240 | 12% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $115,400 | 13.1% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $98,190 | 15.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $96,360 | 15.7% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $76,540 | 19.7% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $72,960 | 20.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,950 | 25.2% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $49,640 | 30.4% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $47,790 | 31.6% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $45,460 | 33.2% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $38,640 | 39% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $37,250 | 40.5% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $37,010 | 40.8% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Tuolumne County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Tuolumne (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 52.0% overall, from $827 to $1,257. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.4% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑11.9% | $1,096 | $1,257 | $1,589 |
| FY 2025 ↑8.8% | $987 | $1,123 | $1,439 |
| FY 2024 ↑14.4% | $919 | $1,032 | $1,356 |
| FY 2023 ↑4.9% | $794 | $902 | $1,187 |
| FY 2022 ↑1.8% | $752 | $860 | $1,132 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.2% | $726 | $845 | $1,101 |
| FY 2020 | $694 | $827 | $1,015 |
Part of the Sonora, CA Micro Area
Tuolumne County is a central county of the Sonora, CA micropolitan statistical area.
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Tuolumne County, both outside California 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 CA (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside CA).
Nearby Counties in California
Largest counties by population in California
Showing the 8 largest of 57 other counties in California.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Tuolumne County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Tuolumne County is $1,257 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,589 and a studio is $1,096.
How does Tuolumne County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Tuolumne County is 31% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,257 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Tuolumne County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Tuolumne County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,589 ranks #409 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 Tuolumne County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $50,280 ($4,190/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Tuolumne County.
Is rent going up or down in Tuolumne County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Tuolumne County increased by 11.9% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,123 to $1,257.
Which jobs can afford rent in Tuolumne 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 $1,257/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Tuolumne County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Tuolumne County went from $827 in FY 2020 to $1,257 in FY 2026, a total change of +52.0% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Tuolumne County?
In Tuolumne County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,257/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 Tuolumne County?
For Tuolumne County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,257/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Tuolumne County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 5.8%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in Tuolumne County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 5.4% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Tuolumne'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 $1,257 implies about $50,280/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- California counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Los Angeles
- See where Tuolumne 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.