County FMR · HUD FY2026
Ward County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Ward County, TX - 0% above the US average.
- $963
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,215
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +0.2%
- YoY change
- +0%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Ward is the 57th most expensive of 254 counties in Texas by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #57
- most expensive of 254 in Texas (2BR)
- +3%
- vs the state average
- $38,520
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +0.2%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (42.8%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Ward County, TX. Verify with HUD →
Ward County, Texas carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $963 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,215/mo and a studio is $945/mo. That's 0% above the national benchmark of $959 and 3% above the Texas average of $935.
Rent increased0.2% from FY 2025 ($961), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $38,520/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Texas. Population: 11,347. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.9%, Census ACS). That's slower than Texas's statewide growth of +6.3% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Ward County
The Ward County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Texas's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 0% above the US average of $959 and 3% higher than the Texas state average of $935. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$961 in FY 2025 to $963 in FY 2026 - a change of +0.2%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $963, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $38,520 per year (about $3,210/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,215 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 11,347 and a county median household income of $71,719, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $835 | $945 | +$110 (+13.2%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $961 | $963 | +$2 (+0.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,064 | $1,215 | +$151 (+14.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,377 | $1,576 | +$199 (+14.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,591 | $1,788 | +$197 (+12.4%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Ward County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
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.
Ward County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Ward sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,215 Top 31% higher than 69% of 3,145 counties
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 Ward compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Texas counties
- Dallas
Dallas County
$1,648 1BR FMR / mo
- Collin
Collin County
$1,648 1BR FMR / mo
- Travis
Travis County
$1,562 1BR FMR / mo
- Tarrant
Tarrant County
$1,473 1BR FMR / mo
- Harris
Harris County
$1,323 1BR FMR / mo
- Bexar
Bexar County
$1,177 1BR FMR / mo
- Ward
Ward County
$963 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Ward is highlighted. Nearby Texas counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Dallas County ($1,648), Collin County ($1,648), Travis County ($1,562), Tarrant County ($1,473), Harris County ($1,323), Bexar County ($1,177), Ward County (this county) ($963).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $963/mo compares to Texas salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | TX Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $130,500 | 8.9% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $100,290 | 11.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $90,010 | 12.8% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $80,000 | 14.4% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,350 | 15.1% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,380 | 18.8% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $59,700 | 19.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $56,920 | 20.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $53,070 | 21.8% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $43,920 | 26.3% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,100 | 29.6% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $31,230 | 37% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,130 | 38.4% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $27,630 | 41.8% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,000 | 42.8% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Ward County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Ward (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 69.8% overall, from $567 to $963. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +19.5% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑0.2% | $945 | $963 | $1,215 |
| FY 2025 ↑1.2% | $835 | $961 | $1,064 |
| FY 2024 ↑9.8% | $831 | $950 | $1,067 |
| FY 2023 ↑19.5% | $775 | $865 | $1,028 |
| FY 2022 ↑13.8% | $705 | $724 | $953 |
| FY 2021 ↑12.2% | $615 | $636 | $838 |
| FY 2020 | $547 | $567 | $737 |
Where Ward County Ranks in Texas
Ward County is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #198 of 254 counties in Texas. Nearest by rank: Robertson County ($1,186), Yoakum County ($1,186), El Paso County ($1,191), Medina County ($1,196), Gregg County ($1,199), Upshur County ($1,199), Wise County ($1,205), Walker County ($1,210), Ward County (this county) ($1,215), Bell County ($1,233), Coryell County ($1,233), Kleberg County ($1,238), McLennan County ($1,240), Burnet County ($1,247), Harrison County ($1,260), Cooke County ($1,261), Karnes County ($1,270).
Nearby Counties in Texas
Largest counties by population in Texas
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Ward County? ▼
How does Ward County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Ward County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Ward County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Ward County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Ward County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Ward County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Ward County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Ward's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $963 implies about $38,520/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Ward can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.
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.