County FMR · HUD FY2026

Walker County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Walker County, GA - 32% above the US average.

$1,263
1-bedroom FMR
$1,390
2-bedroom FMR
-1.6%
YoY change
+32%
vs US avg

The verdict

Walker is the 31st most expensive of 159 counties in Georgia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #598 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#598
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#31
most expensive of 159 in Georgia (2BR)
+23%
vs the state average
$50,520
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 (57.6%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Walker County, GA. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Walker County, Georgia at $1,263 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,390/mo and a studio is $1,211/mo. This is 32% higher than the national average of $959 and 23% above the Georgia average of $1,023.

Rent decreased1.6% from FY 2025 ($1,284), declining against the trend. A household needs about $50,520/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.

Observed renter burden: 42.0% of the 6,373 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 Georgia. Population: 68,065. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.5%, Census ACS). That's slower than Georgia's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area WALKER·COUNTY·GA·GA

Walker County, GA: $1,263/mo 1BR · #598 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA GA
  • 1BR-FMR $1,263
  • 2BR-FMR $1,390
  • RANK-MID #598
  • YOY-FLAT -1.6%
  • VSUS-HIGH +32%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +23% GA
  • INC-MID 27%
  • POP-MID 68K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Fulton County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,137–$1,389
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Fulton ($397 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $979 · US avg: $893
$1,211/mo
↓ 1.6% YoY +24% vs state +36% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,023 · US avg: $959
$1,263/mo
↓ 1.6% YoY +23% vs state +32% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,203 · US avg: $1,175
$1,390/mo
↓ 2.5% YoY +16% vs state +18% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,524 · US avg: $1,525
$1,734/mo
↓ 3.5% YoY +14% vs state +14% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,775 · US avg: $1,756
$1,853/mo
↓ 4.6% YoY +4% vs state +6% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,231
$1,211
$-20 (-1.6%)
1 Bedroom $1,284
$1,263
$-21 (-1.6%)
2 Bedroom $1,426
$1,390
$-36 (-2.5%)
3 Bedroom $1,796
$1,734
$-62 (-3.5%)
4 Bedroom $1,942
$1,853
$-89 (-4.6%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
26%
Affordable
Need $48,440/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
27.1%
Affordable
Need $50,520/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
29.8%
Affordable
Need $55,600/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
37.2%
Burdened
Need $69,360/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
39.8%
Burdened
Need $74,120/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%29.8%
Walker County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $55,887 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Georgia rent burden →

Where Walker sits among every US county

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

$1,390 Top 19% higher than 81% 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 Walker compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Georgia counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Walker is highlighted. Nearby Georgia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fulton County ($1,660), Gwinnett County ($1,660), Cobb County ($1,660), DeKalb County ($1,660), Clayton County ($1,660), Chatham County ($1,533), Walker County (this county) ($1,263).

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 $1,263/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Georgia BLS wages?

Occupation GA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $128,920 11.8% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $99,800 15.2% Affordable
Registered Nurses $86,560 17.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $80,100 18.9% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $63,490 23.9% Affordable
Electricians $58,860 25.7% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $56,570 26.8% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $56,350 26.9% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $55,120 27.5% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,030 38.8% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $38,390 39.5% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $33,130 45.7% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $29,770 50.9% Unaffordable
Teaching Assistants $27,860 54.4% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $26,310 57.6% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Georgia) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Walker (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 84.1% overall, from $686 to $1,263. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 23.9% (FY 2023), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$600$800$1,000$1,200$1,400 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,263
Walker County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓1.6% $1,211 $1,263 $1,390
FY 2025 ↑18.3% $1,231 $1,284 $1,426
FY 2024 ↑18.1% $1,068 $1,085 $1,232
FY 2023 ↑23.9% $910 $919 $1,067
FY 2022 ↑6.9% $721 $742 $883
FY 2021 ↑1.2% $636 $694 $838
FY 2020 $599 $686 $832
Total change (6yr): +84.1%
Annualized: +10.7%/yr
1 BR: $686 → $1,263

Part of the Chattanooga, TN-GA Metro Area

Walker County is a central county of the Chattanooga, TN-GA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 5 other metro-area counties.

Walker County ranks #6 of 6 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Hamilton County ($1,263), Catoosa County ($1,263), Marion County ($1,263), Dade County ($1,263), Sequatchie County ($1,263), Walker County (this county) ($1,263).

Hamilton County
1 BR: $1,263/mo
Catoosa County
1 BR: $1,263/mo
Marion County
1 BR: $1,263/mo
Dade County
1 BR: $1,263/mo
Sequatchie County
1 BR: $1,263/mo
Walker County (this county)
1 BR: $1,263/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Walker County, both outside Georgia 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 GA (FY2026).

Hamilton County
TN · 2 BR $1,390/mo
Marion County
TN · 2 BR $1,390/mo
Sequatchie County
TN · 2 BR $1,390/mo
Onondaga County
NY · 2 BR $1,392/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Lincoln County
MT · 29.9% of income · 2 BR $1,170/mo
Marlboro County
SC · 29.8% of income · 2 BR $902/mo
Christian County
KY · 29.8% of income · 2 BR $1,346/mo
Kauai County
HI · 29.9% of income · 2 BR $2,332/mo

Nearby Counties in Georgia

Largest counties by population in Georgia

Showing the 8 largest of 158 other counties in Georgia.

Fulton County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 1,061,944
Gwinnett County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 957,977
Cobb County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 765,813
DeKalb County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 761,209
Clayton County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 296,312
Chatham County
1 BR: $1,533/mo Pop: 296,266
Cherokee County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 268,567
Forsyth County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 253,225
View all counties in Georgia →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Walker County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Walker County is $1,263 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,390 and a studio is $1,211.
How does Walker County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Walker County is 32% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,263 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Walker County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Walker County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,390 ranks #598 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 Walker County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $50,520 ($4,210/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Walker County.
Is rent going up or down in Walker County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Walker County decreased by 1.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,284 to $1,263.
Which jobs can afford rent in Walker County? ▼
Based on Georgia BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,263/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Walker County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Walker County went from $686 in FY 2020 to $1,263 in FY 2026, a total change of +84.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Walker County? ▼
In Walker County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,263/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 Walker County? ▼
For Walker County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,263/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.