County FMR · HUD FY2026
Washoe County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Washoe County, NV - 55% above the US average.
- $1,489
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,870
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +8.7%
- YoY change
- +55%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Washoe is the 1st most expensive of 17 counties in Nevada by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 8.7% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #1
- most expensive of 17 in Nevada (2BR)
- +31%
- vs the state average
- $59,560
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +8.7%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (61.2%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Washoe County, NV. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Washoe County, Nevada is $1,489 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,870/mo and a studio is $1,289/mo. This is 55% higher than the national average of $959 and 31% above the Nevada average of $1,135.
Rent increased8.7% from FY 2025 ($1,370), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $59,560/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Nevada. Population: 486,674. Population grew 9.2% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Nevada's statewide growth of +7.5% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Washoe County
The Washoe County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Nevada'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 55% above the US average of $959 and 31% higher than the Nevada state average of $1,135. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$1,370 in FY 2025 to $1,489 in FY 2026 - a change of +8.7%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,489, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $59,560 per year (about $4,963/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,870 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 486,674 and a county median household income of $85,600, 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 | $1,181 | $1,289 | +$108 (+9.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,370 | $1,489 | +$119 (+8.7%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,722 | $1,870 | +$148 (+8.6%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,384 | $2,539 | +$155 (+6.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,788 | $2,949 | +$161 (+5.8%) |
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 Washoe 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.
Washoe County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Washoe sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,870 Top 5% higher than 95% 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 Washoe compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Nevada counties
- Washoe
Washoe County
$1,489 1BR FMR / mo
- Clark
Clark County
$1,478 1BR FMR / mo
- Douglas
Douglas County
$1,291 1BR FMR / mo
- Carson City
Carson City
$1,212 1BR FMR / mo
- Elko
Elko County
$1,166 1BR FMR / mo
- Lyon
Lyon County
$1,076 1BR FMR / mo
- Nye
Nye County
$1,000 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Washoe is highlighted. Nearby Nevada counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Washoe County (this county) ($1,489), Clark County ($1,478), Douglas County ($1,291), Carson City ($1,212), Elko County ($1,166), Lyon County ($1,076), Nye County ($1,000).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,489/mo compares to Nevada salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | NV Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $129,030 | 13.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $101,990 | 17.5% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $94,990 | 18.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $78,670 | 22.7% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $78,220 | 22.8% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $64,950 | 27.5% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,420 | 28.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $62,090 | 28.8% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,900 | 29.3% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $46,670 | 38.3% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $38,950 | 45.9% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,480 | 49% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,430 | 53.4% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,450 | 58.7% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,180 | 61.2% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Washoe County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Washoe (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 76.0% overall, from $846 to $1,489. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.9% in FY 2022, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑8.7% | $1,289 | $1,489 | $1,870 |
| FY 2025 ↑9.0% | $1,181 | $1,370 | $1,722 |
| FY 2024 ↑0.1% | $1,072 | $1,257 | $1,582 |
| FY 2023 ↑13.4% | $1,060 | $1,256 | $1,585 |
| FY 2022 ↑14.9% | $926 | $1,108 | $1,394 |
| FY 2021 ↑13.9% | $803 | $964 | $1,217 |
| FY 2020 | $698 | $846 | $1,071 |
Part of the Reno, NV Metro Area
Washoe County is a central county of the Reno, NV metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Washoe County ranks #2 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Storey County ($1,489), Washoe County (this county) ($1,489), Lyon County ($1,076).
Nearby Counties in Nevada
Largest counties by population in Nevada
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Washoe County? ▼
How does Washoe County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Washoe County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Washoe County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Washoe County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Washoe County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Washoe County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Washoe County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Washoe'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 $1,489 implies about $59,560/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 Washoe 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.