County FMR · HUD FY2026

Worcester County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Worcester County, MA - 47% above the US average.

$1,410
1-bedroom FMR
$1,749
2-bedroom FMR
+5.9%
YoY change
+47%
vs US avg

The verdict

Worcester is the 4th cheapest of 14 counties in Massachusetts by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #252 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 5.9% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#252
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#4
cheapest of 14 in Massachusetts (2BR)
-21%
vs the state average
$56,400
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 (48.3%); nearby Massachusetts counties range as much as 79% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Worcester County, MA. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Worcester County, Massachusetts is $1,410 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,749/mo and a studio is $1,206/mo. This is 47% higher than the national average of $959 and 21% below the Massachusetts average of $1,796.

Rent increased5.9% from FY 2025 ($1,332), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $56,400/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.

Observed renter burden: 47.1% of the 114,424 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 Massachusetts. Population: 6,357. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+4.8%, Census ACS). That's faster than Massachusetts's statewide growth of +2.4% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area WORCESTER·COUNTY·MA·MA

Worcester County, MA: $1,410/mo 1BR · #252 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA MA
  • 1BR-FMR $1,410
  • 2BR-FMR $1,749
  • RANK-UPPER #252
  • YOY-SURGE +5.9%
  • VSUS-HIGH +47%
  • VS-ST-LOW -21% MA
  • INC-ROOM 18%
  • POP-SMALL 6K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Suffolk County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,269–$1,551
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Suffolk ($1,066 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,696 · US avg: $893
$1,206/mo
↑ 5.9% YoY -29% vs state +35% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,796 · US avg: $959
$1,410/mo
↑ 5.9% YoY -21% vs state +47% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $2,261 · US avg: $1,175
$1,749/mo
↑ 5.3% YoY -23% vs state +49% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $2,823 · US avg: $1,525
$2,247/mo
↑ 3.8% YoY -20% vs state +47% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $3,188 · US avg: $1,756
$2,637/mo
↑ 6.5% YoY -17% vs state +50% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,139
$1,206
+$67 (+5.9%)
1 Bedroom $1,332
$1,410
+$78 (+5.9%)
2 Bedroom $1,661
$1,749
+$88 (+5.3%)
3 Bedroom $2,165
$2,247
+$82 (+3.8%)
4 Bedroom $2,475
$2,637
+$162 (+6.5%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
15.5%
Affordable
Need $48,240/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
18.1%
Affordable
Need $56,400/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
22.4%
Affordable
Need $69,960/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
28.8%
Affordable
Need $89,880/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
33.8%
Burdened
Need $105,480/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%22.4%
Worcester County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $93,561 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Massachusetts rent burden →

Where Worcester sits among every US county

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

$1,749 Top 8% higher than 92% 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%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Worcester compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Massachusetts counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Worcester is highlighted. Nearby Massachusetts counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Suffolk County ($2,476), Middlesex County ($2,476), Essex County ($2,476), Barnstable County ($1,846), Hampshire County ($1,580), Worcester County (this county) ($1,410), Hampden County ($1,382).

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 $1,410/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Massachusetts BLS wages?

Occupation MA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $150,520 11.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $123,850 13.7% Affordable
Registered Nurses $101,970 16.6% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $96,580 17.5% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $83,260 20.3% Affordable
Electricians $82,120 20.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $78,610 21.5% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $74,990 22.6% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,630 27.9% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $48,060 35.2% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $44,640 37.9% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $44,570 38% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $37,920 44.6% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $36,320 46.6% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $35,060 48.3% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Massachusetts) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Worcester (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 72.4% overall, from $818 to $1,410. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +20.2% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$800$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,410
Worcester County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑5.9% $1,206 $1,410 $1,749
FY 2025 ↑7.6% $1,139 $1,332 $1,661
FY 2024 ↑18.2% $1,072 $1,238 $1,582
FY 2023 ↑20.2% $989 $1,047 $1,358
FY 2022 ↑7.3% $865 $871 $1,146
FY 2021 ↓0.7% $807 $812 $1,070
FY 2020 $812 $818 $1,077
Total change (6yr): +72.4%
Annualized: +9.5%/yr
1 BR: $818 → $1,410

Part of the Worcester, MA Metro Area

Worcester County is a central county of the Worcester, MA metropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Worcester County, both outside Massachusetts 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 MA (FY2026).

Wake County
NC · 2 BR $1,750/mo
Johnston County
NC · 2 BR $1,750/mo
Franklin County
NC · 2 BR $1,750/mo
Broadwater County
MT · 2 BR $1,748/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Charlotte County
VA · 22.4% of income · 2 BR $914/mo
Lewis County
TN · 22.4% of income · 2 BR $925/mo
Sullivan County
IN · 22.4% of income · 2 BR $1,028/mo
Montgomery County
MS · 22.4% of income · 2 BR $842/mo

Nearby Counties in Massachusetts

Largest counties by population in Massachusetts

Showing the 8 largest of 13 other counties in Massachusetts.

Suffolk County
1 BR: $2,476/mo Pop: 663,972
Barnstable County
1 BR: $1,846/mo Pop: 49,232
Hampshire County
1 BR: $1,580/mo Pop: 35,472
Hampden County
1 BR: $1,382/mo Pop: 28,510
Middlesex County
1 BR: $2,476/mo Pop: 23,961
Essex County
1 BR: $2,476/mo Pop: 17,277
Plymouth County
1 BR: $1,761/mo Pop: 17,008
Nantucket County
1 BR: $2,425/mo Pop: 14,299
View all counties in Massachusetts →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Worcester County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Worcester County is $1,410 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,749 and a studio is $1,206.
How does Worcester County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Worcester County is 47% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,410 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Worcester County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Worcester County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,749 ranks #252 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Worcester County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $56,400 ($4,700/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Worcester County.
Is rent going up or down in Worcester County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Worcester County increased by 5.9% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,332 to $1,410.
Which jobs can afford rent in Worcester County? ▼
Based on Massachusetts BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,410/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Worcester County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Worcester County went from $818 in FY 2020 to $1,410 in FY 2026, a total change of +72.4% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Worcester County? ▼
In Worcester County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,410/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 Worcester County? ▼
For Worcester County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,410/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.