County FMR · HUD FY2026

Whitfield County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Whitfield County, GA - 6% below the US average.

$899
1-bedroom FMR
$1,121
2-bedroom FMR
+7.3%
YoY change
-6%
vs US avg

The verdict

Whitfield is the 70th most expensive of 159 counties in Georgia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,227 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 7.3% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#1,227
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#70
most expensive of 159 in Georgia (2BR)
-12%
vs the state average
$35,960
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (41%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Whitfield County, GA. Verify with HUD →

Whitfield County, Georgia carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $899 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,121/mo and a studio is $776/mo. That's 6% below the national benchmark of $959 and 12% below the Georgia average of $1,023.

Rent increased7.3% from FY 2025 ($838), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $35,960/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 38.5% of the 11,553 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 Georgia. Population: 103,033. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.7%, Census ACS). That's slower than Georgia's statewide growth of +5.1% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area WHITFIELD·COUNTY·GA·GA

Whitfield County, GA: $899/mo 1BR · #1227 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA GA
  • 1BR-FMR $899
  • 2BR-FMR $1,121
  • RANK-MID #1,227
  • YOY-SURGE +7.3%
  • VSUS-NEAR -6%
  • VS-ST-LOW -12% GA
  • INC-ROOM 17%
  • POP-MID 103K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Fulton County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $809–$989
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Fulton ($761 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $979 · US avg: $893
$776/mo
↑ 2.9% YoY -21% vs state -13% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,023 · US avg: $959
$899/mo
↑ 7.3% YoY -12% vs state -6% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,203 · US avg: $1,175
$1,121/mo
↑ 1.9% YoY -7% vs state -5% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,524 · US avg: $1,525
$1,461/mo
↑ 1.8% YoY -4% vs state -4% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,775 · US avg: $1,756
$1,876/mo
↑ 12.7% YoY +6% vs state +7% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $754
$776
+$22 (+2.9%)
1 Bedroom $838
$899
+$61 (+7.3%)
2 Bedroom $1,100
$1,121
+$21 (+1.9%)
3 Bedroom $1,435
$1,461
+$26 (+1.8%)
4 Bedroom $1,665
$1,876
+$211 (+12.7%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
14.5%
Affordable
Need $31,040/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
16.8%
Affordable
Need $35,960/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.9%
Affordable
Need $44,840/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
27.3%
Affordable
Need $58,440/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
35%
Burdened
Need $75,040/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%20.9%
Whitfield County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $64,262 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Georgia rent burden →

Where Whitfield sits among every US county

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

$1,121 Top 39% higher than 61% 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 Whitfield compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Georgia counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Whitfield is highlighted. Nearby Georgia counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fulton County ($1,660), Gwinnett County ($1,660), Cobb County ($1,660), DeKalb County ($1,660), Clayton County ($1,660), Chatham County ($1,533), Whitfield County (this county) ($899).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $899/mo compares to Georgia salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation GA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $128,920 8.4% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $99,800 10.8% Affordable
Registered Nurses $86,560 12.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $80,100 13.5% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $63,490 17% Affordable
Electricians $58,860 18.3% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $56,350 19.1% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $56,570 19.1% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $55,120 19.6% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,030 27.6% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $38,390 28.1% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $33,130 32.6% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $29,770 36.2% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $27,860 38.7% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $26,310 41% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Georgia) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Whitfield (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 48.8% overall, from $604 to $899. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +13.7% in FY 2025, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$500$600$700$800$900$1,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $899
Whitfield County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑7.3% $776 $899 $1,121
FY 2025 ↑13.7% $754 $838 $1,100
FY 2024 ↑12.5% $656 $737 $968
FY 2023 ↑6.2% $590 $655 $862
FY 2022 ↑1.6% $558 $617 $806
FY 2021 ↑0.5% $531 $607 $753
FY 2020 $542 $604 $724
Total change (6yr): +48.8%
Annualized: +6.9%/yr
1 BR: $604 → $899

Part of the Dalton, GA Metro Area

Whitfield County is a central county of the Dalton, GA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.

Whitfield County ranks #1 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Whitfield County (this county) ($899), Murray County ($827).

Whitfield County (this county)
1 BR: $899/mo
Murray County
1 BR: $827/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Whitfield County, both outside Georgia 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 GA (FY2026).

Champaign County
IL · 2 BR $1,122/mo
Crow Wing County
MN · 2 BR $1,120/mo
Iron County
UT · 2 BR $1,120/mo
Polk County
TX · 2 BR $1,122/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Grand County
CO · 20.9% of income · 2 BR $1,475/mo
Montgomery County
MD · 20.9% of income · 2 BR $2,246/mo
Hart County
KY · 20.9% of income · 2 BR $866/mo
Johnson County
WY · 20.9% of income · 2 BR $1,115/mo

Nearby Counties in Georgia

Largest counties by population in Georgia

Showing the 8 largest of 158 other counties in Georgia.

Fulton County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 1,061,944
Gwinnett County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 957,977
Cobb County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 765,813
DeKalb County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 761,209
Clayton County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 296,312
Chatham County
1 BR: $1,533/mo Pop: 296,266
Cherokee County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 268,567
Forsyth County
1 BR: $1,660/mo Pop: 253,225
View all counties in Georgia →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Whitfield County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Whitfield County is $899 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,121 and a studio is $776.
How does Whitfield County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Whitfield County is 6% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $899 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Whitfield County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Whitfield County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,121 ranks #1,227 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 Whitfield County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $35,960 ($2,997/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Whitfield County.
Is rent going up or down in Whitfield County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Whitfield County increased by 7.3% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $838 to $899.
Which jobs can afford rent in Whitfield County? ▼
Based on Georgia BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $899/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Whitfield County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Whitfield County went from $604 in FY 2020 to $899 in FY 2026, a total change of +48.8% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Whitfield County? ▼
In Whitfield County, the FY 2026 FMR of $899/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 Whitfield County? ▼
For Whitfield County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($899/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.