County FMR · HUD FY2026
Wheeler County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Wheeler County, OR - 20% below the US average.
- $770
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,010
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +8.3%
- YoY change
- -20%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Wheeler is the 2nd cheapest of 36 counties in Oregon by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,479 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 8.3% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #1,479
- most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #2
- cheapest of 36 in Oregon (2BR)
- -33%
- vs the state average
- $30,800
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (6.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (26.8%); 15 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Wheeler County, OR. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Wheeler County, Oregon is $770 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,010/mo and a studio is $703/mo. This is 20% lower than the national average of $959 and 33% below the Oregon average of $1,143.
Rent increased8.3% from FY 2025 ($711), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $30,800/year.
Observed renter burden: 22.1% of the 204 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.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 5.1%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.6% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Oregon. Population: 1,407.
FMR filing desk
Area WHEELER·COUNTY·OR·OR
Wheeler County, OR: $770/mo 1BR · #1479 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA OR
- 1BR-FMR $770
- 2BR-FMR $1,010
- RANK-MID #1,479
- YOY-SURGE +8.3%
- VSUS-BELOW -20%
- VS-ST-LOW -33% OR
- INC-ROOM 18%
- POP-SMALL 1K
- PHOTO-NEAR Multnomah County
- VOUCH-90-110 $693–$847
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Multnomah ($907 1BR gap)
Read with: Section 8 housing guide
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $640 | $703 | +$63 (+9.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $711 | $770 | +$59 (+8.3%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $933 | $1,010 | +$77 (+8.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,307 | $1,405 | +$98 (+7.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,567 | $1,694 | +$127 (+8.1%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Wheeler 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.
Where Wheeler sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,010 higher than 47% 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 Wheeler compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Oregon counties
- Multnomah
Multnomah County
$1,677 1BR FMR / mo
- Washington
Washington County
$1,677 1BR FMR / mo
- Clackamas
Clackamas County
$1,677 1BR FMR / mo
- Lane
Lane County
$1,286 1BR FMR / mo
- Jackson
Jackson County
$1,229 1BR FMR / mo
- Marion
Marion County
$1,201 1BR FMR / mo
- Wheeler
Wheeler County
$770 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Wheeler is highlighted. Nearby Oregon counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Multnomah County ($1,677), Washington County ($1,677), Clackamas County ($1,677), Lane County ($1,286), Jackson County ($1,229), Marion County ($1,201), Wheeler County (this county) ($770).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
With a below-average 1-bedroom at $770/mo, most of these Oregon occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.
| Occupation | OR Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $135,260 | 6.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $123,990 | 7.5% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $98,580 | 9.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $97,320 | 9.5% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $88,140 | 10.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $81,130 | 11.4% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $75,800 | 12.2% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $63,970 | 14.4% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $61,180 | 15.1% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $51,210 | 18% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,280 | 20% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,550 | 24.6% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,540 | 25.3% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,140 | 25.6% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $34,430 | 26.8% | Affordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Wheeler County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Wheeler (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 39.0% overall, from $554 to $770. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 8.3% (FY 2026).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑8.3% | $703 | $770 | $1,010 |
| FY 2025 ↑3.2% | $640 | $711 | $933 |
| FY 2024 ↑8.2% | $613 | $689 | $905 |
| FY 2023 ↑4.6% | $561 | $637 | $839 |
| FY 2022 ↑4.1% | $530 | $609 | $798 |
| FY 2021 ↑5.6% | $501 | $585 | $759 |
| FY 2020 | $465 | $554 | $714 |
Where Wheeler County Ranks in Oregon
Wheeler 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 #2 of 36 counties in Oregon. Nearest by rank: Harney County ($1,008), Wheeler County (this county) ($1,010), Morrow County ($1,027), Baker County ($1,047), Gilliam County ($1,048), Malheur County ($1,081), Grant County ($1,127), Wallowa County ($1,149).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Wheeler County, both outside Oregon 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 OR (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside OR).
Nearby Counties in Oregon
Largest counties by population in Oregon
Showing the 8 largest of 35 other counties in Oregon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Wheeler County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Wheeler County is $770 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,010 and a studio is $703.
How does Wheeler County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Wheeler County is 20% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $770 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Wheeler County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Wheeler County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,010 ranks #1,479 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Wheeler County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $30,800 ($2,567/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Wheeler County.
Is rent going up or down in Wheeler County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Wheeler County increased by 8.3% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $711 to $770.
Which jobs can afford rent in Wheeler County?
Based on Oregon BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $770/mo. 15 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Wheeler County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Wheeler County went from $554 in FY 2020 to $770 in FY 2026, a total change of +39.0% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Wheeler County?
In Wheeler County, the FY 2026 FMR of $770/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 Wheeler County?
For Wheeler County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($770/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Wheeler County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 5.1%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in Wheeler County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.6% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Wheeler's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $770 implies about $30,800/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Oregon counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Multnomah
- See where Wheeler ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.