County FMR · HUD FY2026

Valencia County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Valencia County, NM - 24% above the US average.

$1,185
1-bedroom FMR
$1,464
2-bedroom FMR
+9.3%
YoY change
+24%
vs US avg

The verdict

Valencia is the 3rd most expensive of 33 counties in New Mexico by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #503 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 9.3% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#503
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#3
most expensive of 33 in New Mexico (2BR)
+28%
vs the state average
$47,400
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (49.6%); nearby New Mexico counties range as much as 57% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Valencia County, NM. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Valencia County, New Mexico at $1,185 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,464/mo and a studio is $1,009/mo. This is 24% higher than the national average of $959 and 28% above the New Mexico average of $927.

Rent increased9.3% from FY 2025 ($1,084), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $47,400/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.

Observed renter burden: 45.9% of the 4,807 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 New Mexico. Population: 76,613. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.9%, Census ACS). That's in line with New Mexico's statewide growth of +1.1% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area VALENCIA·COUNTY·NM·NM

Valencia County, NM: $1,185/mo 1BR · #503 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA NM
  • 1BR-FMR $1,185
  • 2BR-FMR $1,464
  • RANK-MID #503
  • YOY-SURGE +9.3%
  • VSUS-ABOVE +24%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +28% NM
  • INC-MID 24%
  • POP-MID 77K
  • PHOTO-FINISH Bernalillo County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,067–$1,304
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Bernalillo ($0 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $828 · US avg: $893
$1,009/mo
↑ 10.5% YoY +22% vs state +13% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $927 · US avg: $959
$1,185/mo
↑ 9.3% YoY +28% vs state +24% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,129 · US avg: $1,175
$1,464/mo
↑ 10.0% YoY +30% vs state +25% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,496 · US avg: $1,525
$2,036/mo
↑ 9.2% YoY +36% vs state +34% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,758 · US avg: $1,756
$2,399/mo
↑ 8.6% YoY +36% vs state +37% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $913
$1,009
+$96 (+10.5%)
1 Bedroom $1,084
$1,185
+$101 (+9.3%)
2 Bedroom $1,331
$1,464
+$133 (+10.0%)
3 Bedroom $1,865
$2,036
+$171 (+9.2%)
4 Bedroom $2,209
$2,399
+$190 (+8.6%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
20.8%
Affordable
Need $40,360/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
24.4%
Affordable
Need $47,400/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
30.1%
Burdened
Need $58,560/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
41.9%
Burdened
Need $81,440/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
49.4%
Burdened
Need $95,960/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.

0%100%National avg22%30.1%
Valencia County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $58,333 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View New Mexico rent burden →

Where Valencia sits among every US county

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

$1,464 Top 16% higher than 84% 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 Valencia compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other New Mexico counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Valencia is highlighted. Nearby New Mexico counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Santa Fe County ($1,390), Valencia County (this county) ($1,185), Bernalillo County ($1,185), Sandoval County ($1,185), Lea County ($1,068), Dona Ana County ($951), San Juan County ($885).

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 $1,185/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using New Mexico BLS wages?

Occupation NM Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $120,820 11.8% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $100,200 14.2% Affordable
Registered Nurses $88,260 16.1% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,420 18.4% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $65,510 21.7% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $63,340 22.5% Affordable
Electricians $56,890 25% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $56,620 25.1% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $48,360 29.4% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $44,970 31.6% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $38,060 37.4% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $33,640 42.3% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $31,360 45.3% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $30,350 46.9% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,650 49.6% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (New Mexico) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Valencia (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 66.2% overall, from $713 to $1,185. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.7% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$800$1,000$1,200$1,400 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,185
Valencia County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑9.3% $1,009 $1,185 $1,464
FY 2025 ↑7.9% $913 $1,084 $1,331
FY 2024 ↑6.7% $828 $1,005 $1,222
FY 2023 ↑14.7% $765 $942 $1,144
FY 2022 ↑6.6% $666 $821 $996
FY 2021 ↑8.0% $621 $770 $940
FY 2020 $571 $713 $877
Total change (6yr): +66.2%
Annualized: +8.8%/yr
1 BR: $713 → $1,185

Part of the Albuquerque, NM Metro Area

Valencia County is a outlying county of the Albuquerque, NM metropolitan statistical area, alongside 3 other metro-area counties.

Valencia County ranks #4 of 4 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Bernalillo County ($1,185), Sandoval County ($1,185), Torrance County ($1,185), Valencia County (this county) ($1,185).

Bernalillo County
1 BR: $1,185/mo
Sandoval County
1 BR: $1,185/mo
Torrance County
1 BR: $1,185/mo
Valencia County (this county)
1 BR: $1,185/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Valencia County, both outside New Mexico 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 NM (FY2026).

Horry County
SC · 2 BR $1,465/mo
Petersburg Borough
AK · 2 BR $1,463/mo
Chaffee County
CO · 2 BR $1,466/mo
Utah County
UT · 2 BR $1,460/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Ventura County
CA · 30.1% of income · 2 BR $2,693/mo
Rockdale County
GA · 30.2% of income · 2 BR $1,820/mo
Wasco County
OR · 30.2% of income · 2 BR $1,600/mo
Carroll County
GA · 30.2% of income · 2 BR $1,820/mo

Nearby Counties in New Mexico

Largest counties by population in New Mexico

Showing the 8 largest of 32 other counties in New Mexico.

Bernalillo County
1 BR: $1,185/mo Pop: 674,692
Dona Ana County
1 BR: $951/mo Pop: 219,870
Santa Fe County
1 BR: $1,390/mo Pop: 154,481
Sandoval County
1 BR: $1,185/mo Pop: 149,460
San Juan County
1 BR: $885/mo Pop: 121,798
Lea County
1 BR: $1,068/mo Pop: 73,103
McKinley County
1 BR: $894/mo Pop: 72,073
Otero County
1 BR: $792/mo Pop: 67,850
View all counties in New Mexico →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Valencia County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Valencia County is $1,185 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,464 and a studio is $1,009.
How does Valencia County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Valencia County is 24% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,185 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Valencia County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Valencia County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,464 ranks #503 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 Valencia County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $47,400 ($3,950/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Valencia County.
Is rent going up or down in Valencia County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Valencia County increased by 9.3% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,084 to $1,185.
Which jobs can afford rent in Valencia County? ▼
Based on New Mexico BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,185/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Valencia County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Valencia County went from $713 in FY 2020 to $1,185 in FY 2026, a total change of +66.2% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Valencia County? ▼
In Valencia County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,185/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 Valencia County? ▼
For Valencia County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,185/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.