County FMR · HUD FY2026
Wise County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Wise County, VA - 27% below the US average.
- $697
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $914
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +5.4%
- YoY change
- -27%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Wise is the 24th cheapest of 133 counties in Virginia by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 5.4% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #24
- cheapest of 133 in Virginia (2BR)
- -41%
- vs the state average
- $27,880
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +5.4%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (6.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (28.8%); 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 Wise County, VA. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Wise County, Virginia at $697 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $914/mo and a studio is $692/mo. This is 27% lower than the national average of $959 and 41% below the Virginia average of $1,182.
Rent increased5.4% from FY 2025 ($661), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $27,880/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Virginia. Population: 36,105. Population declined 8.5% over the past five years (Census ACS), a trend that can ease rental-market pressure over time even as FMR reflects recent rent levels. That's slower than Virginia's statewide growth of +2.9% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Wise County
The Wise County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Virginia'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.
Wise County's 1-bedroom rent runs 27% below the US average of $959 and 41% lower than the Virginia state average of $1,182. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$661 in FY 2025 to $697 in FY 2026 - a change of +5.4%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $697, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $27,880 per year (about $2,323/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $914 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 36,105 and a county median household income of $50,740, 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 | $657 | $692 | +$35 (+5.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $661 | $697 | +$36 (+5.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $851 | $914 | +$63 (+7.4%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,127 | $1,205 | +$78 (+6.9%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,429 | $1,429 | $0 (0.0%) |
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 Wise 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.
Wise County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Wise sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$914 higher than 14% 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 Wise compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Virginia counties
- Fairfax
Fairfax County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Prince William
Prince William County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Loudoun
Loudoun County
$2,015 1BR FMR / mo
- Virginia Beach city
Virginia Beach city
$1,512 1BR FMR / mo
- Chesterfield
Chesterfield County
$1,507 1BR FMR / mo
- Henrico
Henrico County
$1,507 1BR FMR / mo
- Wise $697
Wise County
$697 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Wise 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), Wise County (this county) ($697).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $697/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 | 6.2% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $121,530 | 6.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $88,820 | 9.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $84,190 | 9.9% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $65,110 | 12.8% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,270 | 13.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $61,610 | 13.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,200 | 13.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $54,500 | 15.3% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $42,490 | 19.7% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,210 | 21.3% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,650 | 22.8% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $33,970 | 24.6% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $32,760 | 25.5% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,060 | 28.8% | Affordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Wise County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Wise (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 28.6% overall, from $542 to $697. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 14.1% (FY 2023), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑5.4% | $692 | $697 | $914 |
| FY 2025 ↓9.9% | $657 | $661 | $851 |
| FY 2024 ↑12.1% | $730 | $734 | $905 |
| FY 2023 ↑14.1% | $588 | $655 | $793 |
| FY 2022 ↑7.9% | $479 | $574 | $702 |
| FY 2021 ↓1.8% | $472 | $532 | $701 |
| FY 2020 | $482 | $542 | $714 |
Where Wise County Ranks in Virginia
Wise 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 #24 of 133 counties in Virginia. Nearest by rank: Lunenburg County ($914), Martinsville city ($914), Norton city ($914), Patrick County ($914), Pittsylvania County ($914), Russell County ($914), Smyth County ($914), Tazewell County ($914), Wise County (this county) ($914), Wythe County ($914), Pulaski County ($921), Page County ($924), Franklin County ($944), Northampton County ($949), Mecklenburg County ($950), Buckingham County ($959), Nottoway County ($975).
Nearby Counties in Virginia
Largest counties by population in Virginia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Wise County? ▼
How does Wise County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Wise County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Wise County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Wise County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Wise County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Wise County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Wise County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Wise'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 $697 implies about $27,880/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 Wise 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.