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.

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)

Studio
State avg: $1,513 · US avg: $893
$1,096/mo
↑ 11.0% YoY -28% vs state +23% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,647 · US avg: $959
$1,257/mo
↑ 11.9% YoY -24% vs state +31% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $2,053 · US avg: $1,175
$1,589/mo
↑ 10.4% YoY -23% vs state +35% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $2,752 · US avg: $1,525
$2,078/mo
↑ 9.9% YoY -24% vs state +36% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $3,165 · US avg: $1,756
$2,666/mo
↑ 10.3% YoY -16% vs state +52% vs US

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.

Studio
18.2%
Affordable
Need $43,840/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
20.9%
Affordable
Need $50,280/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
26.4%
Affordable
Need $63,560/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
34.5%
Burdened
Need $83,120/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
44.3%
Burdened
Need $106,640/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%26.4%
Tuolumne County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $72,259 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View California rent burden →

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

$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%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Tuolumne compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other California counties

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).

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

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

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.

$800$900$1,000$1,100$1,200$1,300 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,257
Tuolumne County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
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
Total change (6yr): +52.0%
Annualized: +7.2%/yr
1 BR: $827 → $1,257

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).

La Plata County
CO · 2 BR $1,589/mo
Androscoggin County
ME · 2 BR $1,586/mo
Ector County
TX · 2 BR $1,595/mo
Wasco County
OR · 2 BR $1,600/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Penobscot County
ME · 26.4% of income · 2 BR $1,392/mo
Oktibbeha County
MS · 26.4% of income · 2 BR $957/mo
Bernalillo County
NM · 26.4% of income · 2 BR $1,464/mo
Coos County
NH · 26.4% of income · 2 BR $1,287/mo

Nearby Counties in California

Largest counties by population in California

Showing the 8 largest of 57 other counties 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
View all 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).

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.