County FMR · HUD FY2026

Washington County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Washington County, IN - 21% below the US average.

$753
1-bedroom FMR
$988
2-bedroom FMR
-0.8%
YoY change
-21%
vs US avg

The verdict

Washington is the 41st cheapest of 92 counties in Indiana by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,385 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.

#1,385
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#41
cheapest of 92 in Indiana (2BR)
-15%
vs the state average
$30,120
income to afford it (30% rule)

General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (31.9%); 14 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Washington County, IN. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Washington County, Indiana is $753 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $988/mo and a studio is $749/mo. This is 21% lower than the national average of $959 and 15% below the Indiana average of $882.

Rent decreased0.8% from FY 2025 ($759), roughly tracking inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $30,120/year.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Indiana. Population: 28,133. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.2%, Census ACS). That's in line with Indiana's statewide growth of +2.6% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area WASHINGTON·COUNTY·IN·IN

Washington County, IN: $753/mo 1BR · #1385 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA IN
  • 1BR-FMR $753
  • 2BR-FMR $988
  • RANK-MID #1,385
  • YOY-FLAT -0.8%
  • VSUS-BELOW -21%
  • VS-ST-LOW -15% IN
  • INC-ROOM 15%
  • POP-SMALL 28K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Marion County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $678–$828
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Marion ($514 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $816 · US avg: $893
$749/mo
↓ 0.8% YoY -8% vs state -16% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $882 · US avg: $959
$753/mo
↓ 0.8% YoY -15% vs state -21% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,096 · US avg: $1,175
$988/mo
↓ 0.8% YoY -10% vs state -16% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,391 · US avg: $1,525
$1,185/mo
↓ 1.3% YoY -15% vs state -22% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,590 · US avg: $1,756
$1,308/mo
↓ 1.0% YoY -18% vs state -26% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $755
$749
$-6 (-0.8%)
1 Bedroom $759
$753
$-6 (-0.8%)
2 Bedroom $996
$988
$-8 (-0.8%)
3 Bedroom $1,200
$1,185
$-15 (-1.3%)
4 Bedroom $1,321
$1,308
$-13 (-1.0%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
14.6%
Affordable
Need $29,960/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
14.7%
Affordable
Need $30,120/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
19.3%
Affordable
Need $39,520/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
23.2%
Affordable
Need $47,400/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
25.6%
Affordable
Need $52,320/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%19.3%
Washington County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $61,358 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Indiana rent burden →

Where Washington sits among every US county

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

$988 higher than 44% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Above this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $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 Washington compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Indiana counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Washington is highlighted. Nearby Indiana counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Marion County ($1,267), Hamilton County ($1,267), St. Joseph County ($1,105), Lake County ($1,082), Elkhart County ($992), Allen County ($916), Washington County (this county) ($753).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $753/mo, most of these Indiana occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation IN Salary Rent Burden Verdict
General & Operations Managers $108,410 8.3% Affordable
Software Developers $103,570 8.7% Affordable
Registered Nurses $80,740 11.2% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,410 11.7% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $71,540 12.6% Affordable
Electricians $65,480 13.8% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,090 15% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $58,370 15.5% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $50,690 17.8% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $41,600 21.7% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $40,020 22.6% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $35,240 25.6% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $30,460 29.7% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $30,300 29.8% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,290 31.9% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Indiana) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Washington (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 38.9% overall, from $542 to $753. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.9% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$500$550$600$650$700$750$800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $753
Washington County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓0.8% $749 $753 $988
FY 2025 ↑0.8% $755 $759 $996
FY 2024 ↑16.9% $745 $753 $989
FY 2023 ↑12.4% $625 $644 $848
FY 2022 ↑3.2% $541 $573 $754
FY 2021 ↑2.4% $517 $555 $732
FY 2020 $504 $542 $714
Total change (6yr): +38.9%
Annualized: +5.6%/yr
1 BR: $542 → $753

Part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metro Area

Washington County is a outlying county of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metropolitan statistical area, alongside 11 other metro-area counties.

Washington County ranks #12 of 12 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Jefferson County ($1,047), Clark County ($1,047), Bullitt County ($1,047), Floyd County ($1,047), Oldham County ($1,047), Harrison County ($1,047), Spencer County ($1,047), Henry County ($1,047), Shelby County ($1,027), Meade County ($819), Nelson County ($781), Washington County (this county) ($753).

Jefferson County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Clark County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Bullitt County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Floyd County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Oldham County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Harrison County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Spencer County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Henry County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Shelby County
1 BR: $1,027/mo
Meade County
1 BR: $819/mo
Nelson County
1 BR: $781/mo
Washington County (this county)
1 BR: $753/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Washington County, both outside Indiana 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 IN (FY2026).

Trempealeau County
WI · 2 BR $988/mo
Logan County
IL · 2 BR $988/mo
Morgan County
TN · 2 BR $988/mo
Poweshiek County
IA · 2 BR $988/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Dakota County
NE · 19.3% of income · 2 BR $1,154/mo
Edgar County
IL · 19.3% of income · 2 BR $916/mo
Humphreys County
TN · 19.3% of income · 2 BR $955/mo
Cumberland County
TN · 19.3% of income · 2 BR $942/mo

Nearby Counties in Indiana

Largest counties by population in Indiana

Showing the 8 largest of 91 other counties in Indiana.

Marion County
1 BR: $1,267/mo Pop: 971,737
Lake County
1 BR: $1,082/mo Pop: 497,682
Allen County
1 BR: $916/mo Pop: 385,456
Hamilton County
1 BR: $1,267/mo Pop: 349,527
St. Joseph County
1 BR: $1,105/mo Pop: 272,388
Elkhart County
1 BR: $992/mo Pop: 206,841
Tippecanoe County
1 BR: $1,032/mo Pop: 186,955
Vanderburgh County
1 BR: $860/mo Pop: 179,900
View all counties in Indiana →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Washington County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Washington County is $753 per month. A 2-bedroom is $988 and a studio is $749.
How does Washington County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Washington County is 21% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $753 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Washington County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Washington County's 2-bedroom FMR of $988 ranks #1,385 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Washington County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $30,120 ($2,510/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Washington County.
Is rent going up or down in Washington County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Washington County decreased by 0.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $759 to $753.
Which jobs can afford rent in Washington County? ▼
Based on Indiana BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like General and Operations Managers, Software Developers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $753/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Washington County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Washington County went from $542 in FY 2020 to $753 in FY 2026, a total change of +38.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Washington County? ▼
In Washington County, the FY 2026 FMR of $753/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 Washington County? ▼
For Washington County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($753/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.