Watauga County
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in North Carolina. Population: 54,540.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Studio
National avg: $893
$822/mo
↓ 5.9% YoY
-8% vs US
1 Bedroom
National avg: $959
$988/mo
↓ 1.6% YoY
+3% vs US
2 Bedroom
National avg: $1,175
$1,177/mo
↓ 7.6% YoY
+0% vs US
3 Bedroom
National avg: $1,525
$1,504/mo
↓ 3.3% YoY
-1% vs US
4 Bedroom
National avg: $1,756
$1,974/mo
↓ 7.7% YoY
+12% vs US
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $874 | $822 | $-52 (-5.9%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,004 | $988 | $-16 (-1.6%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,274 | $1,177 | $-97 (-7.6%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,555 | $1,504 | $-51 (-3.3%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,139 | $1,974 | $-165 (-7.7%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Required annual income for 1 BR
$39,520
$3,293/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$47,080
$3,923/month gross
Other Counties in North Carolina
Surry County
1 BR: $705/mo
Alamance County
1 BR: $1,230/mo
Durham County
1 BR: $1,507/mo
Dare County
1 BR: $1,305/mo
Cleveland County
1 BR: $763/mo
Davidson County
1 BR: $876/mo
Data source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard quality units in each area.