County FMR · HUD FY2026
Washington County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Washington County, MO - 19% below the US average.
- $774
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $888
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +14.0%
- YoY change
- -19%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Washington is the 56th cheapest of 116 counties in Missouri by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 14.0% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #56
- cheapest of 116 in Missouri (2BR)
- -0%
- vs the state average
- $30,960
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +14.0%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.1%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (32%); 13 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, MO. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Washington County, Missouri at $774 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $888/mo and a studio is $660/mo. This is 19% lower than the national average of $959 and 0% below the Missouri average of $777.
Rent increased14.0% from FY 2025 ($679), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $30,960/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Missouri. Population: 23,580. Population declined 5.8% over the past five years (Census ACS), a trend that can ease rental-market pressure over time even as FMR reflects recent rent levels. That's slower than Missouri's statewide growth of +1.3% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Washington County
The Washington County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Missouri'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.
Washington County's 1-bedroom rent runs 19% below the US average of $959 and 0% lower than the Missouri state average of $777. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$679 in FY 2025 to $774 in FY 2026 - a change of +14.0%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $774, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $30,960 per year (about $2,580/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $888 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 23,580 and a county median household income of $51,886, 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 | $615 | $660 | +$45 (+7.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $679 | $774 | +$95 (+14.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $824 | $888 | +$64 (+7.8%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $993 | $1,065 | +$72 (+7.3%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,233 | $1,276 | +$43 (+3.5%) |
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 Washington 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.
Washington County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Washington sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$888 higher than 11% 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 Washington compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Missouri counties
- Jackson
Jackson County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Clay
Clay County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Louis
St. Louis County
$995 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Charles
St. Charles County
$995 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Louis city
St. Louis city
$995 1BR FMR / mo
- Greene
Greene County
$883 1BR FMR / mo
- Washington
Washington County
$774 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Washington is highlighted. Nearby Missouri counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Jackson County ($1,197), Clay County ($1,197), St. Louis County ($995), St. Charles County ($995), St. Louis city ($995), Greene County ($883), Washington County (this county) ($774).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $774/mo compares to Missouri salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | MO Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $114,550 | 8.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,770 | 11.6% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $77,410 | 12% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $73,210 | 12.7% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $70,950 | 13.1% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,720 | 15.3% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $58,730 | 15.8% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,540 | 18.4% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $48,250 | 19.2% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $41,850 | 22.2% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,990 | 24.4% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $34,080 | 27.3% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,250 | 29.7% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,310 | 31.7% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,060 | 32% | Stretched |
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 60.9% overall, from $481 to $774. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.0% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑14.0% | $660 | $774 | $888 |
| FY 2025 ↑11.9% | $615 | $679 | $824 |
| FY 2024 ↑7.1% | $601 | $607 | $797 |
| FY 2023 ↑8.8% | $549 | $567 | $746 |
| FY 2022 ↑3.8% | $489 | $521 | $685 |
| FY 2021 ↑4.4% | $457 | $502 | $662 |
| FY 2020 | $426 | $481 | $634 |
Where Washington County Ranks in Missouri
Washington 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 #56 of 116 counties in Missouri. Nearest by rank: Schuyler County ($888), Scotland County ($888), Shannon County ($888), Shelby County ($888), St. Clair County ($888), Stoddard County ($888), Sullivan County ($888), Texas County ($888), Washington County (this county) ($888), Wayne County ($888), Worth County ($888), Wright County ($888), New Madrid County ($890), Dent County ($892), Butler County ($895), Miller County ($898), Laclede County ($903).
Nearby Counties in Missouri
Largest counties by population in Missouri
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Washington County? ▼
How does Washington County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Washington County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Washington County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Washington County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Washington County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Washington County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Washington County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Washington'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 $774 implies about $30,960/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 Washington 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.