County FMR · HUD FY2026

Ventura County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Ventura County, CA - 135% above the US average.

$2,250
1-bedroom FMR
$2,693
2-bedroom FMR
+4.8%
YoY change
+135%
vs US avg

The verdict

Ventura is the 14th most expensive of 58 counties in California by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #31 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#31
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#14
most expensive of 58 in California (2BR)
+37%
vs the state average
$90,000
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (15.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (73%); only 6 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; 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 Ventura County, CA. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Ventura County, California at $2,250 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $2,693/mo and a studio is $1,998/mo. This is 135% higher than the national average of $959 and 37% above the California average of $1,647.

Rent increased4.8% from FY 2025 ($2,147), outpacing inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $90,000/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

Observed renter burden: 56.2% of the 99,657 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: 842,009. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-1.2%, Census ACS). That's in line with California's statewide growth of +0.2% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area VENTURA·COUNTY·CA·CA

Ventura County, CA: $2,250/mo 1BR · #31 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA CA
  • 1BR-FMR $2,250
  • 2BR-FMR $2,693
  • RANK-UPPER #31
  • YOY-UP +4.8%
  • VSUS-HIGH +135%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +37% CA
  • INC-MID 25%
  • POP-MAJOR 842K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Los Angeles County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $2,025–$2,475
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Los Angeles ($165 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,513 · US avg: $893
$1,998/mo
↑ 6.8% YoY +32% vs state +124% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,647 · US avg: $959
$2,250/mo
↑ 4.8% YoY +37% vs state +135% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $2,053 · US avg: $1,175
$2,693/mo
↑ 4.8% YoY +31% vs state +129% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $2,752 · US avg: $1,525
$3,652/mo
↑ 4.2% YoY +33% vs state +139% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $3,165 · US avg: $1,756
$4,240/mo
↑ 3.9% YoY +34% vs state +141% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,871
$1,998
+$127 (+6.8%)
1 Bedroom $2,147
$2,250
+$103 (+4.8%)
2 Bedroom $2,569
$2,693
+$124 (+4.8%)
3 Bedroom $3,505
$3,652
+$147 (+4.2%)
4 Bedroom $4,080
$4,240
+$160 (+3.9%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
22.3%
Affordable
Need $79,920/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
25.2%
Affordable
Need $90,000/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
30.1%
Burdened
Need $107,720/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
40.8%
Burdened
Need $146,080/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
47.4%
Burdened
Need $169,600/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%
Ventura County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $107,327 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View California rent burden →

Where Ventura sits among every US county

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

$2,693 Top 1% higher than 99% 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%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Below this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Below this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Below this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Below this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Below this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Ventura compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other California counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Ventura 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), Ventura County (this county) ($2,250), Los Angeles County ($2,085), Riverside County ($1,777), San Bernardino County ($1,777).

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 $2,250/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 15.8% Affordable
Registered Nurses $140,330 19.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $125,240 21.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $115,400 23.4% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $98,190 27.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $96,360 28% Affordable
Electricians $76,540 35.3% Stretched
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $72,960 37% Stretched
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,950 45% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $49,640 54.4% Unaffordable
Customer Service Representatives $47,790 56.5% Unaffordable
Teaching Assistants $45,460 59.4% Unaffordable
Janitors & Cleaners $38,640 69.9% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $37,250 72.5% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $37,010 73% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (California) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Ventura (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 49.7% overall, from $1,503 to $2,250. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +18.0% in FY 2022, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$1,400$1,600$1,800$2,000$2,200$2,400 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $2,250
Ventura County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑4.8% $1,998 $2,250 $2,693
FY 2025 ↑6.8% $1,871 $2,147 $2,569
FY 2024 ↑0.5% $1,725 $2,011 $2,414
FY 2023 ↑11.7% $1,703 $2,001 $2,425
FY 2022 ↑18.0% $1,507 $1,792 $2,218
FY 2021 ↑1.1% $1,269 $1,519 $1,923
FY 2020 $1,266 $1,503 $1,943
Total change (6yr): +49.7%
Annualized: +7.0%/yr
1 BR: $1,503 → $2,250

Part of the Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA Metro Area

Ventura County is a central county of the Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Ventura 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).

Honolulu County
HI · 2 BR $2,642/mo
Suffolk County
NY · 2 BR $2,747/mo
Nassau County
NY · 2 BR $2,747/mo
Maui County
HI · 2 BR $2,624/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Valencia County
NM · 30.1% of income · 2 BR $1,464/mo
Gila County
AZ · 30% of income · 2 BR $1,479/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

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 Ventura County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Ventura County is $2,250 per month. A 2-bedroom is $2,693 and a studio is $1,998.
How does Ventura County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Ventura County is 135% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $2,250 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Ventura County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Ventura County's 2-bedroom FMR of $2,693 ranks #31 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Ventura County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $90,000 ($7,500/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Ventura County.
Is rent going up or down in Ventura County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Ventura County increased by 4.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $2,147 to $2,250.
Which jobs can afford rent in Ventura 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 $2,250/mo. 6 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Ventura County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Ventura County went from $1,503 in FY 2020 to $2,250 in FY 2026, a total change of +49.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Ventura County? ▼
In Ventura County, the FY 2026 FMR of $2,250/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 Ventura County? ▼
For Ventura County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($2,250/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.