County FMR · HUD FY2026

Union County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Union County, OR - 2% above the US average.

$980
1-bedroom FMR
$1,222
2-bedroom FMR
+14.1%
YoY change
+2%
vs US avg

The verdict

Union is the 10th cheapest of 36 counties in Oregon by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #944 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 14.1% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#944
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#10
cheapest of 36 in Oregon (2BR)
-14%
vs the state average
$39,200
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (34.2%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Union County, OR. Verify with HUD →

Union County, Oregon carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $980 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,222/mo and a studio is $843/mo. That's 2% above the national benchmark of $959 and 14% below the Oregon average of $1,143.

Rent increased14.1% from FY 2025 ($859), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $39,200/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 38.5% of the 3,845 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 Oregon. Population: 26,286. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.6%, Census ACS). That's slower than Oregon's statewide growth of +3.8% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area UNION·COUNTY·OR·OR

Union County, OR: $980/mo 1BR · #944 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA OR
  • 1BR-FMR $980
  • 2BR-FMR $1,222
  • RANK-MID #944
  • YOY-SURGE +14.1%
  • VSUS-NEAR +2%
  • VS-ST-LOW -14% OR
  • INC-ROOM 18%
  • POP-SMALL 26K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Multnomah County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $882–$1,078
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Multnomah ($697 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,051 · US avg: $893
$843/mo
↑ 11.8% YoY -20% vs state -6% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,143 · US avg: $959
$980/mo
↑ 14.1% YoY -14% vs state +2% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,425 · US avg: $1,175
$1,222/mo
↑ 11.1% YoY -14% vs state +4% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,963 · US avg: $1,525
$1,700/mo
↑ 10.3% YoY -13% vs state +11% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,318 · US avg: $1,756
$2,050/mo
↑ 11.0% YoY -12% vs state +17% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $754
$843
+$89 (+11.8%)
1 Bedroom $859
$980
+$121 (+14.1%)
2 Bedroom $1,100
$1,222
+$122 (+11.1%)
3 Bedroom $1,541
$1,700
+$159 (+10.3%)
4 Bedroom $1,847
$2,050
+$203 (+11.0%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
15.8%
Affordable
Need $33,720/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
18.3%
Affordable
Need $39,200/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
22.8%
Affordable
Need $48,880/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
31.8%
Burdened
Need $68,000/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
38.3%
Burdened
Need $82,000/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%22.8%
Union County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $64,212 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Oregon rent burden →

Where Union sits among every US county

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

$1,222 Top 30% higher than 70% 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 Union compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Oregon counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Union is highlighted. Nearby Oregon counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Multnomah County ($1,677), Washington County ($1,677), Clackamas County ($1,677), Lane County ($1,286), Jackson County ($1,229), Marion County ($1,201), Union County (this county) ($980).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $980/mo compares to Oregon salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation OR Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $135,260 8.7% Affordable
Registered Nurses $123,990 9.5% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $98,580 11.9% Affordable
Electricians $97,320 12.1% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $88,140 13.3% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $81,130 14.5% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $75,800 15.5% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $63,970 18.4% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $61,180 19.2% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $51,210 23% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $46,280 25.4% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $37,550 31.3% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $36,540 32.2% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $36,140 32.5% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $34,430 34.2% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Oregon) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Union (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 52.2% overall, from $644 to $980. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.1% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$700$800$900$1,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $980
Union County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑14.1% $843 $980 $1,222
FY 2025 ↑6.4% $754 $859 $1,100
FY 2024 ↑6.0% $718 $807 $1,060
FY 2023 ↑7.6% $670 $761 $1,002
FY 2022 ↑4.0% $618 $707 $930
FY 2021 ↑5.6% $591 $680 $896
FY 2020 $553 $644 $848
Total change (6yr): +52.2%
Annualized: +7.2%/yr
1 BR: $644 → $980

Part of the La Grande, OR Micro Area

Union County is a central county of the La Grande, OR micropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Union County, both outside Oregon 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 OR (FY2026).

Nye County
NV · 2 BR $1,220/mo
Nez Perce County
ID · 2 BR $1,220/mo
Asotin County
WA · 2 BR $1,220/mo
Benzie County
MI · 2 BR $1,224/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Madison County
NY · 22.8% of income · 2 BR $1,392/mo
Oklahoma County
OK · 22.8% of income · 2 BR $1,244/mo
Warren County
NJ · 22.8% of income · 2 BR $1,895/mo
Pasquotank County
NC · 22.8% of income · 2 BR $1,216/mo

Nearby Counties in Oregon

Largest counties by population in Oregon

Showing the 8 largest of 35 other counties in Oregon.

Multnomah County
1 BR: $1,677/mo Pop: 808,098
Washington County
1 BR: $1,677/mo Pop: 599,541
Clackamas County
1 BR: $1,677/mo Pop: 420,925
Lane County
1 BR: $1,286/mo Pop: 382,218
Marion County
1 BR: $1,201/mo Pop: 345,815
Jackson County
1 BR: $1,229/mo Pop: 222,604
Deschutes County
1 BR: $1,371/mo Pop: 199,352
Linn County
1 BR: $1,236/mo Pop: 128,598
View all counties in Oregon →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Union County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Union County is $980 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,222 and a studio is $843.
How does Union County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Union County is 2% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $980 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Union County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Union County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,222 ranks #944 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Union County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $39,200 ($3,267/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Union County.
Is rent going up or down in Union County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Union County increased by 14.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $859 to $980.
Which jobs can afford rent in Union County? ▼
Based on Oregon BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $980/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Union County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Union County went from $644 in FY 2020 to $980 in FY 2026, a total change of +52.2% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Union County? ▼
In Union County, the FY 2026 FMR of $980/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 Union County? ▼
For Union County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($980/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.