County FMR · HUD FY2026

Westmoreland County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Westmoreland County, VA - 2% above the US average.

$979
1-bedroom FMR
$1,194
2-bedroom FMR
+12.1%
YoY change
+2%
vs US avg

The verdict

Westmoreland is the 60th cheapest of 133 counties in Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,006 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 12.1% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#1,006
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#60
cheapest of 133 in Virginia (2BR)
-17%
vs the state average
$39,160
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (40.4%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Westmoreland County, VA. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Westmoreland County, Virginia at $979 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,194/mo and a studio is $973/mo. This is 2% higher than the national average of $959 and 17% below the Virginia average of $1,182.

Rent increased12.1% from FY 2025 ($873), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $39,160/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 45.9% of the 1,681 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 Virginia. Population: 18,480. Population grew 5.9% 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 Virginia's statewide growth of +2.9% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area WESTMORELAND·COUNTY·VA·VA

Westmoreland County, VA: $979/mo 1BR · #1006 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA VA
  • 1BR-FMR $979
  • 2BR-FMR $1,194
  • RANK-MID #1,006
  • YOY-SURGE +12.1%
  • VSUS-NEAR +2%
  • VS-ST-LOW -17% VA
  • INC-ROOM 20%
  • POP-SMALL 18K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Fairfax County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $881–$1,077
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Fairfax ($1,036 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,137 · US avg: $893
$973/mo
↑ 12.1% YoY -14% vs state +9% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,182 · US avg: $959
$979/mo
↑ 12.1% YoY -17% vs state +2% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,369 · US avg: $1,175
$1,194/mo
↑ 10.8% YoY -13% vs state +2% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,789 · US avg: $1,525
$1,658/mo
↑ 9.7% YoY -7% vs state +9% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,128 · US avg: $1,756
$1,810/mo
↑ 7.1% YoY -15% vs state +3% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $868
$973
+$105 (+12.1%)
1 Bedroom $873
$979
+$106 (+12.1%)
2 Bedroom $1,078
$1,194
+$116 (+10.8%)
3 Bedroom $1,511
$1,658
+$147 (+9.7%)
4 Bedroom $1,690
$1,810
+$120 (+7.1%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
19.5%
Affordable
Need $38,920/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
19.7%
Affordable
Need $39,160/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
24%
Affordable
Need $47,760/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
33.3%
Burdened
Need $66,320/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
36.3%
Burdened
Need $72,400/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%24%
Westmoreland County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $59,766 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Virginia rent burden →

Where Westmoreland sits among every US county

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

$1,194 Top 32% higher than 68% 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 Westmoreland compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Virginia counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Westmoreland is highlighted. Nearby Virginia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fairfax County ($2,015), Prince William County ($2,015), Loudoun County ($2,015), Virginia Beach city ($1,512), Chesterfield County ($1,507), Henrico County ($1,507), Westmoreland County (this county) ($979).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $979/mo compares to Virginia salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation VA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $134,470 8.7% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $121,530 9.7% Affordable
Registered Nurses $88,820 13.2% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $84,190 14% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $65,110 18% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $62,270 18.9% Affordable
Electricians $61,610 19.1% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $61,200 19.2% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $54,500 21.6% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $42,490 27.6% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,210 30% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $36,650 32.1% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $33,970 34.6% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $32,760 35.9% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $29,060 40.4% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Virginia) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Westmoreland (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 40.3% overall, from $698 to $979. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 21.7% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$600$700$800$900$1,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $979
Westmoreland County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑12.1% $973 $979 $1,194
FY 2025 ↓2.7% $868 $873 $1,078
FY 2024 ↑21.7% $892 $897 $1,113
FY 2023 ↑10.5% $719 $737 $970
FY 2022 ↑0.6% $599 $667 $877
FY 2021 ↓5.0% $589 $663 $874
FY 2020 $592 $698 $877
Total change (6yr): +40.3%
Annualized: +5.8%/yr
1 BR: $698 → $979

Where Westmoreland County Ranks in Virginia

Westmoreland 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 #60 of 133 counties in Virginia. Nearest by rank: Prince Edward County ($1,094), Essex County ($1,113), Richmond County ($1,157), Amherst County ($1,187), Appomattox County ($1,187), Bedford County ($1,187), Campbell County ($1,187), Lynchburg city ($1,187), Westmoreland County (this county) ($1,194), Orange County ($1,234), Caroline County ($1,246), Louisa County ($1,247), King and Queen County ($1,250), Botetourt County ($1,254), Craig County ($1,254), Roanoke County ($1,254), Roanoke city ($1,254).

Prince Edward County
2 BR: $1,094/mo
Essex County
2 BR: $1,113/mo
Richmond County
2 BR: $1,157/mo
Amherst County
2 BR: $1,187/mo
Appomattox County
2 BR: $1,187/mo
Bedford County
2 BR: $1,187/mo
Campbell County
2 BR: $1,187/mo
Lynchburg city
2 BR: $1,187/mo
Westmoreland County (this county)
2 BR: $1,194/mo
Orange County
2 BR: $1,234/mo
Caroline County
2 BR: $1,246/mo
Louisa County
2 BR: $1,247/mo
King and Queen County
2 BR: $1,250/mo
Botetourt County
2 BR: $1,254/mo
Craig County
2 BR: $1,254/mo
Roanoke County
2 BR: $1,254/mo
Roanoke city
2 BR: $1,254/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Westmoreland County, both outside Virginia 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 VA (FY2026).

Worcester County
MD · 2 BR $1,194/mo
Lycoming County
PA · 2 BR $1,195/mo
Midland County
MI · 2 BR $1,193/mo
Columbia County
WI · 2 BR $1,195/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Benton County
MS · 24% of income · 2 BR $842/mo
Clay County
GA · 24% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Logan County
CO · 24% of income · 2 BR $1,101/mo
Wilcox County
AL · 24% of income · 2 BR $843/mo

Nearby Counties in Virginia

Largest counties by population in Virginia

Showing the 8 largest of 132 other counties in Virginia.

Fairfax County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 1,145,354
Prince William County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 481,114
Virginia Beach city
1 BR: $1,512/mo Pop: 457,900
Loudoun County
1 BR: $2,015/mo Pop: 420,773
Chesterfield County
1 BR: $1,507/mo Pop: 366,019
Henrico County
1 BR: $1,507/mo Pop: 333,120
Chesapeake city
1 BR: $1,512/mo Pop: 249,377
Norfolk city
1 BR: $1,512/mo Pop: 236,973
View all counties in Virginia →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Westmoreland County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Westmoreland County is $979 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,194 and a studio is $973.
How does Westmoreland County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Westmoreland County is 2% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $979 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Westmoreland County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Westmoreland County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,194 ranks #1,006 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 Westmoreland County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $39,160 ($3,263/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Westmoreland County.
Is rent going up or down in Westmoreland County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Westmoreland County increased by 12.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $873 to $979.
Which jobs can afford rent in Westmoreland County? ▼
Based on Virginia BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $979/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Westmoreland County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Westmoreland County went from $698 in FY 2020 to $979 in FY 2026, a total change of +40.3% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Westmoreland County? ▼
In Westmoreland County, the FY 2026 FMR of $979/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 Westmoreland County? ▼
For Westmoreland County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($979/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.