County FMR · HUD FY2026

Washington County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Washington County, PA - 12% above the US average.

$1,077
1-bedroom FMR
$1,299
2-bedroom FMR
+0.8%
YoY change
+12%
vs US avg

The verdict

Washington is the 23rd most expensive of 67 counties in Pennsylvania by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #755 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#755
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#23
most expensive of 67 in Pennsylvania (2BR)
+8%
vs the state average
$43,080
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (45.4%).

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

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Washington County, Pennsylvania is $1,077 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,299/mo and a studio is $1,001/mo. This is 12% higher than the national average of $959 and 8% above the Pennsylvania average of $996.

Rent increased0.8% from FY 2025 ($1,068), roughly tracking inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $43,080/year for a 1-bedroom.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Pennsylvania. Population: 209,631. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.1%, Census ACS). That's in line with Pennsylvania's statewide growth of +1.5% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area WASHINGTON·COUNTY·PA·PA

Washington County, PA: $1,077/mo 1BR · #755 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA PA
  • 1BR-FMR $1,077
  • 2BR-FMR $1,299
  • RANK-MID #755
  • YOY-FLAT +0.8%
  • VSUS-ABOVE +12%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +8% PA
  • INC-ROOM 17%
  • POP-MID 210K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Philadelphia Count
  • VOUCH-90-110 $969–$1,185
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Philadelphia ($443 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $900 · US avg: $893
$1,001/mo
↑ 0.3% YoY +11% vs state +12% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $996 · US avg: $959
$1,077/mo
↑ 0.8% YoY +8% vs state +12% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,225 · US avg: $1,175
$1,299/mo
↑ 1.5% YoY +6% vs state +11% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,570 · US avg: $1,525
$1,661/mo
↑ 1.8% YoY +6% vs state +9% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,744 · US avg: $1,756
$1,789/mo
↑ 1.7% YoY +3% vs state +2% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $998
$1,001
+$3 (+0.3%)
1 Bedroom $1,068
$1,077
+$9 (+0.8%)
2 Bedroom $1,280
$1,299
+$19 (+1.5%)
3 Bedroom $1,632
$1,661
+$29 (+1.8%)
4 Bedroom $1,759
$1,789
+$30 (+1.7%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
15.5%
Affordable
Need $40,040/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
16.7%
Affordable
Need $43,080/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.1%
Affordable
Need $51,960/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
25.7%
Affordable
Need $66,440/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
27.7%
Affordable
Need $71,560/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%20.1%
Washington County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $77,487 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Pennsylvania rent burden →

Where Washington sits among every US county

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

$1,299 Top 24% higher than 76% 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 Washington compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Pennsylvania counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Washington is highlighted. Nearby Pennsylvania counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Philadelphia County ($1,520), Montgomery County ($1,520), Bucks County ($1,520), Delaware County ($1,520), Lancaster County ($1,220), Washington County (this county) ($1,077), Allegheny County ($1,077).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,077/mo compares to Pennsylvania salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation PA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $123,740 10.4% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $100,400 12.9% Affordable
Registered Nurses $87,610 14.8% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $86,350 15% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,330 16.7% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $74,160 17.4% Affordable
Electricians $65,400 19.8% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $60,950 21.2% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $58,540 22.1% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $43,080 30% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $37,560 34.4% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $35,670 36.2% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $30,550 42.3% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $30,410 42.5% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,490 45.4% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Pennsylvania) 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 48.1% overall, from $727 to $1,077. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.0% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$700$800$900$1,000$1,100 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,077
Washington County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑0.8% $1,001 $1,077 $1,299
FY 2025 ↑10.7% $998 $1,068 $1,280
FY 2024 ↑6.7% $917 $965 $1,161
FY 2023 ↑12.0% $862 $904 $1,090
FY 2022 ↑4.5% $763 $807 $981
FY 2021 ↑6.2% $714 $772 $940
FY 2020 $661 $727 $890
Total change (6yr): +48.1%
Annualized: +6.8%/yr
1 BR: $727 → $1,077

Part of the Pittsburgh, PA Metro Area

Washington County is a central county of the Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 7 other metro-area counties.

Washington County ranks #6 of 8 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Allegheny County ($1,077), Westmoreland County ($1,077), Butler County ($1,077), Beaver County ($1,077), Fayette County ($1,077), Washington County (this county) ($1,077), Lawrence County ($780), Armstrong County ($767).

Allegheny County
1 BR: $1,077/mo
Westmoreland County
1 BR: $1,077/mo
Butler County
1 BR: $1,077/mo
Beaver County
1 BR: $1,077/mo
Fayette County
1 BR: $1,077/mo
Washington County (this county)
1 BR: $1,077/mo
Lawrence County
1 BR: $780/mo
Armstrong County
1 BR: $767/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

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

Bennington County
VT · 2 BR $1,297/mo
McLean County
IL · 2 BR $1,302/mo
Sullivan County
NY · 2 BR $1,302/mo
Big Horn County
MT · 2 BR $1,302/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Gallatin County
IL · 20.1% of income · 2 BR $916/mo
Burt County
NE · 20.1% of income · 2 BR $961/mo
Refugio County
TX · 20.1% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Fannin County
GA · 20.1% of income · 2 BR $973/mo

Nearby Counties in Pennsylvania

Largest counties by population in Pennsylvania

Showing the 8 largest of 66 other counties in Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 1,593,208
Allegheny County
1 BR: $1,077/mo Pop: 1,245,310
Montgomery County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 856,399
Bucks County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 645,163
Delaware County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 575,312
Lancaster County
1 BR: $1,220/mo Pop: 553,202
Chester County
1 BR: $1,520/mo Pop: 536,474
York County
1 BR: $1,060/mo Pop: 457,051
View all counties in Pennsylvania →

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 $1,077 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,299 and a studio is $1,001.
How does Washington County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Washington County is 12% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,077 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 $1,299 ranks #755 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 Washington County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $43,080 ($3,590/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 increased by 0.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,068 to $1,077.
Which jobs can afford rent in Washington County? ▼
Based on Pennsylvania BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,077/mo. 10 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 $727 in FY 2020 to $1,077 in FY 2026, a total change of +48.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Washington County? ▼
In Washington County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,077/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 ($1,077/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.