County FMR · HUD FY2026

Winchester city Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Winchester city, VA - 31% above the US average.

$1,255
1-bedroom FMR
$1,573
2-bedroom FMR
+0.2%
YoY change
+31%
vs US avg

The verdict

Winchester city is the 50th most expensive of 133 counties in Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #409 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#409
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#50
most expensive of 133 in Virginia (2BR)
+6%
vs the state average
$50,200
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (51.8%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Winchester city, VA. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Winchester city, Virginia at $1,255 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,573/mo and a studio is $1,133/mo. This is 31% higher than the national average of $959 and 6% above the Virginia average of $1,182.

Rent increased0.2% from FY 2025 ($1,253), roughly tracking inflation. A household needs about $50,200/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.

Observed renter burden: 47.0% of the 6,544 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: 28,103. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.7%, Census ACS). That's slower than Virginia's statewide growth of +2.9% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area WINCHESTER·CITY·VA·VA

Winchester city, VA: $1,255/mo 1BR · #409 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA VA
  • 1BR-FMR $1,255
  • 2BR-FMR $1,573
  • RANK-MID #409
  • YOY-FLAT +0.2%
  • VSUS-HIGH +31%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +6% VA
  • INC-MID 23%
  • POP-SMALL 28K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Fairfax County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,130–$1,381
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Fairfax ($760 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,137 · US avg: $893
$1,133/mo
↑ 3.5% YoY -0% vs state +27% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,182 · US avg: $959
$1,255/mo
↑ 0.2% YoY +6% vs state +31% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,369 · US avg: $1,175
$1,573/mo
↑ 0.3% YoY +15% vs state +34% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,789 · US avg: $1,525
$1,965/mo
↑ 0.7% YoY +10% vs state +29% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,128 · US avg: $1,756
$2,639/mo
↑ 0.2% YoY +24% vs state +50% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,095
$1,133
+$38 (+3.5%)
1 Bedroom $1,253
$1,255
+$2 (+0.2%)
2 Bedroom $1,569
$1,573
+$4 (+0.3%)
3 Bedroom $1,952
$1,965
+$13 (+0.7%)
4 Bedroom $2,635
$2,639
+$4 (+0.2%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
21%
Affordable
Need $45,320/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
23.3%
Affordable
Need $50,200/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
29.2%
Affordable
Need $62,920/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
36.5%
Burdened
Need $78,600/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
49%
Burdened
Need $105,560/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%29.2%
Winchester city 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $64,648 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Virginia rent burden →

Where Winchester city sits among every US county

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

$1,573 Top 13% higher than 87% 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%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Winchester city compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Virginia counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Winchester city 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), Winchester city (this county) ($1,255).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,255/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Virginia BLS wages?

Occupation VA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $134,470 11.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $121,530 12.4% Affordable
Registered Nurses $88,820 17% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $84,190 17.9% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $65,110 23.1% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $62,270 24.2% Affordable
Electricians $61,610 24.4% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $61,200 24.6% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $54,500 27.6% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $42,490 35.4% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $39,210 38.4% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $36,650 41.1% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $33,970 44.3% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $32,760 46% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $29,060 51.8% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Virginia) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Winchester city (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 60.3% overall, from $783 to $1,255. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.8% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$800$1,000$1,200$1,400 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,255
Winchester city 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑0.2% $1,133 $1,255 $1,573
FY 2025 ↑13.5% $1,095 $1,253 $1,569
FY 2024 ↑14.8% $983 $1,104 $1,390
FY 2023 ↑10.8% $879 $962 $1,227
FY 2022 ↑6.0% $868 $868 $1,117
FY 2021 ↑4.6% $814 $819 $1,064
FY 2020 $778 $783 $1,027
Total change (6yr): +60.3%
Annualized: +8.2%/yr
1 BR: $783 → $1,255

Part of the Winchester, VA-WV Metro Area

Winchester city is a central county of the Winchester, VA-WV metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.

Winchester city ranks #3 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Frederick County ($1,255), Hampshire County ($1,255), Winchester city (this county) ($1,255).

Frederick County
1 BR: $1,255/mo
Hampshire County
1 BR: $1,255/mo
Winchester city (this county)
1 BR: $1,255/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Winchester city, 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).

Harris County
TX · 2 BR $1,573/mo
Fort Bend County
TX · 2 BR $1,573/mo
Monroe County
NY · 2 BR $1,573/mo
Montgomery County
TX · 2 BR $1,573/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Lane County
OR · 29.2% of income · 2 BR $1,688/mo
Atlantic County
NJ · 29.2% of income · 2 BR $1,867/mo
Liberty County
TX · 29.1% of income · 2 BR $1,573/mo
Sarasota County
FL · 29.1% of income · 2 BR $1,958/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 Winchester city? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Winchester city is $1,255 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,573 and a studio is $1,133.
How does Winchester city rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Winchester city is 31% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,255 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Winchester city rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Winchester city's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,573 ranks #409 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Winchester city? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $50,200 ($4,183/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Winchester city.
Is rent going up or down in Winchester city? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Winchester city increased by 0.2% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,253 to $1,255.
Which jobs can afford rent in Winchester city? ▼
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 $1,255/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Winchester city over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Winchester city went from $783 in FY 2020 to $1,255 in FY 2026, a total change of +60.3% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Winchester city? ▼
In Winchester city, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,255/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 Winchester city? ▼
For Winchester city, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,255/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.