County FMR · HUD FY2026

Watauga County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Watauga County, NC - 3% above the US average.

$988
1-bedroom FMR
$1,177
2-bedroom FMR
-1.6%
YoY change
+3%
vs US avg

The verdict

Watauga is the 38th most expensive of 100 counties in North Carolina by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,038 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#1,038
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#38
most expensive of 100 in North Carolina (2BR)
+1%
vs the state average
$39,520
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.1%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (42%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Watauga County, NC. Verify with HUD →

Watauga County, North Carolina carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $988 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,177/mo and a studio is $822/mo. That's 3% above the national benchmark of $959 and 1% above the North Carolina average of $981.

Rent decreased1.6% from FY 2025 ($1,004), declining against the trend. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $39,520/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 57.3% of the 8,225 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in North Carolina. Population: 54,540. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.9%, Census ACS). That's slower than North Carolina's statewide growth of +4.2% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area WATAUGA·COUNTY·NC·NC

Watauga County, NC: $988/mo 1BR · #1038 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA NC
  • 1BR-FMR $988
  • 2BR-FMR $1,177
  • RANK-MID #1,038
  • YOY-FLAT -1.6%
  • VSUS-NEAR +3%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +1% NC
  • INC-MID 23%
  • POP-MID 55K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Wake County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $889–$1,087
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Wake ($608 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $932 · US avg: $893
$822/mo
↓ 5.9% YoY -12% vs state -8% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $981 · US avg: $959
$988/mo
↓ 1.6% YoY +1% vs state +3% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,161 · US avg: $1,175
$1,177/mo
↓ 7.6% YoY +1% vs state +0% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,499 · US avg: $1,525
$1,504/mo
↓ 3.3% YoY +0% vs state -1% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,780 · US avg: $1,756
$1,974/mo
↓ 7.7% YoY +11% vs state +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%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
19.2%
Affordable
Need $32,880/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
23.1%
Affordable
Need $39,520/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
27.5%
Affordable
Need $47,080/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
35.1%
Burdened
Need $60,160/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
46.1%
Burdened
Need $78,960/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%27.5%
Watauga County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $51,367 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View North Carolina rent burden →

Where Watauga sits among every US county

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

$1,177 Top 33% higher than 67% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Watauga compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other North Carolina counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Watauga is highlighted. Nearby North Carolina counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Wake County ($1,596), Mecklenburg County ($1,538), Durham County ($1,507), Guilford County ($1,213), Cumberland County ($1,113), Forsyth County ($1,082), Watauga County (this county) ($988).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $988/mo compares to North Carolina salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation NC Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $131,000 9.1% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $99,190 12% Affordable
Registered Nurses $81,860 14.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $80,490 14.7% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $58,030 20.4% Affordable
Electricians $54,070 21.9% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,580 23.9% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $49,400 24% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $49,390 24% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $39,870 29.7% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,530 30% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $32,630 36.3% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $30,090 39.4% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,760 41.2% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $28,230 42% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (North Carolina) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Watauga (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 45.9% overall, from $677 to $988. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.0% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$700$800$900$1,000$1,100 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $988
Watauga County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓1.6% $822 $988 $1,177
FY 2025 ↑10.8% $874 $1,004 $1,274
FY 2024 ↑7.2% $777 $906 $1,140
FY 2023 ↑14.0% $720 $845 $1,040
FY 2022 ↑12.3% $665 $741 $913
FY 2021 ↓2.5% $609 $660 $826
FY 2020 $591 $677 $865
Total change (6yr): +45.9%
Annualized: +6.5%/yr
1 BR: $677 → $988

Part of the Boone, NC Micro Area

Watauga County is a central county of the Boone, NC micropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Watauga County, both outside North Carolina 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 NC (FY2026).

White County
GA · 2 BR $1,177/mo
Calhoun County
MI · 2 BR $1,176/mo
Fond du Lac County
WI · 2 BR $1,176/mo
Bulloch County
GA · 2 BR $1,178/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Las Animas County
CO · 27.5% of income · 2 BR $1,155/mo
Bartow County
GA · 27.5% of income · 2 BR $1,820/mo
Toole County
MT · 27.5% of income · 2 BR $1,230/mo
Linn County
KS · 27.5% of income · 2 BR $1,358/mo

Nearby Counties in North Carolina

Largest counties by population in North Carolina

Showing the 8 largest of 99 other counties in North Carolina.

Wake County
1 BR: $1,596/mo Pop: 1,132,103
Mecklenburg County
1 BR: $1,538/mo Pop: 1,115,403
Guilford County
1 BR: $1,213/mo Pop: 539,557
Forsyth County
1 BR: $1,082/mo Pop: 383,739
Cumberland County
1 BR: $1,113/mo Pop: 335,207
Durham County
1 BR: $1,507/mo Pop: 325,101
Buncombe County
1 BR: $1,429/mo Pop: 269,449
Union County
1 BR: $1,538/mo Pop: 240,109
View all counties in North Carolina →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Watauga County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Watauga County is $988 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,177 and a studio is $822.
How does Watauga County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Watauga County is 3% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $988 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Watauga County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Watauga County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,177 ranks #1,038 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Watauga County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $39,520 ($3,293/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Watauga County.
Is rent going up or down in Watauga County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Watauga County decreased by 1.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,004 to $988.
Which jobs can afford rent in Watauga County? ▼
Based on North Carolina BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $988/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Watauga County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Watauga County went from $677 in FY 2020 to $988 in FY 2026, a total change of +45.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Watauga County? ▼
In Watauga County, the FY 2026 FMR of $988/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 Watauga County? ▼
For Watauga County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($988/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.