County FMR · HUD FY2026
Winston County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Winston County, AL - 34% below the US average.
- $631
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $776
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +7.5%
- YoY change
- -34%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Winston is the 19th cheapest of 67 counties in Alabama by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 7.5% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #19
- cheapest of 67 in Alabama (2BR)
- -18%
- vs the state average
- $25,240
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +7.5%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (6.7%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (33.2%); 13 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 Winston County, AL. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Winston County, Alabama at $631 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $776/mo and a studio is $576/mo. This is 34% lower than the national average of $959 and 18% below the Alabama average of $772.
Rent increased7.5% from FY 2025 ($587), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $25,240/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Alabama. Population: 23,655. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-1.0%, Census ACS). That's slower than Alabama's statewide growth of +3.9% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Winston County
The Winston County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Alabama's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Winston County's 1-bedroom rent runs 34% below the US average of $959 and 18% lower than the Alabama state average of $772. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$587 in FY 2025 to $631 in FY 2026 - a change of +7.5%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $631, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $25,240 per year (about $2,103/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $776 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 23,655 and a county median household income of $48,032, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $578 | $576 | $-2 (-0.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $587 | $631 | +$44 (+7.5%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $772 | $776 | +$4 (+0.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,058 | $1,070 | +$12 (+1.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,123 | $1,150 | +$27 (+2.4%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Winston 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.
Winston County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Winston sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$776 higher than 0% 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 Winston compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Alabama counties
- Baldwin
Baldwin County
$1,200 1BR FMR / mo
- Jefferson
Jefferson County
$1,155 1BR FMR / mo
- Madison
Madison County
$1,136 1BR FMR / mo
- Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa County
$972 1BR FMR / mo
- Mobile
Mobile County
$919 1BR FMR / mo
- Montgomery
Montgomery County
$870 1BR FMR / mo
- Winston
Winston County
$631 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Winston is highlighted. Nearby Alabama counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Baldwin County ($1,200), Jefferson County ($1,155), Madison County ($1,136), Tuscaloosa County ($972), Mobile County ($919), Montgomery County ($870), Winston County (this county) ($631).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $631/mo compares to Alabama salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | AL Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $113,020 | 6.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $106,330 | 7.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $71,040 | 10.7% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $71,070 | 10.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $59,850 | 12.7% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $53,850 | 14.1% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $52,420 | 14.4% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,120 | 15.1% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $46,060 | 16.4% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,690 | 20.1% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,730 | 20.1% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,430 | 25.7% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $29,120 | 26% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $23,490 | 32.2% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $22,790 | 33.2% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Winston County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Winston (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 35.7% overall, from $465 to $631. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 16.0% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑7.5% | $576 | $631 | $776 |
| FY 2025 ↓10.0% | $578 | $587 | $772 |
| FY 2024 ↑16.0% | $642 | $652 | $857 |
| FY 2023 ↑4.9% | $560 | $562 | $740 |
| FY 2022 ↑11.4% | $530 | $536 | $705 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.4% | $479 | $481 | $634 |
| FY 2020 | $462 | $465 | $612 |
Where Winston County Ranks in Alabama
Winston 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 #19 of 67 counties in Alabama. Nearest by rank: Fayette County ($776), Franklin County ($776), Jackson County ($776), Lamar County ($776), Marion County ($776), Marshall County ($776), Monroe County ($776), Pickens County ($776), Winston County (this county) ($776), Choctaw County ($778), Randolph County ($778), Marengo County ($783), Clarke County ($791), Perry County ($803), Talladega County ($814), Sumter County ($827), Dallas County ($836).
Nearby Counties in Alabama
Largest counties by population in Alabama
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Winston County? ▼
How does Winston County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Winston County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Winston County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Winston County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Winston County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Winston County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Winston County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Winston's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $631 implies about $25,240/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Winston can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.
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.