County FMR · HUD FY2026

Worcester County Fair Market Rent

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

Compiled by PlainRent Editorial, Fair Market Rent Editorial Team · May 15, 2026

$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; rent here has climbed 5.9% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#4
cheapest of 14 in Massachusetts (2BR): -21%
vs the state average: $56,400
income to afford it (30% rule): +5.9%
YoY, FY2025→2026

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. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $56,400/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

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.

What these rents mean for Worcester County

The Worcester County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Massachusetts'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.

Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 47% above the US average of $959 and 21% lower than the Massachusetts state average of $1,796. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$1,332 in FY 2025 to $1,410 in FY 2026 - a change of +5.9%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,410, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $56,400 per year (about $4,700/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,749 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 6,357 and a county median household income of $93,561, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

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	vs State	vs US
Studio	$1,139	$1,206	+$67 (+5.9%)	-29%	+35%
1 Bedroom	$1,332	$1,410	+$78 (+5.9%)	-21%	+47%
2 Bedroom	$1,661	$1,749	+$88 (+5.3%)	-23%	+49%
3 Bedroom	$2,165	$2,247	+$82 (+3.8%)	-20%	+47%
4 Bedroom	$2,475	$2,637	+$162 (+6.5%)	-17%	+50%

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR

$56,400

$4,700/month gross

Required annual income for 2 BR

$69,960

$5,830/month gross

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.

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

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

Suffolk

$2,476
Middlesex

$2,476
Essex

$2,476
Barnstable

$1,846
Hampshire

$1,580
Worcester

$1,410
Hampden

$1,382

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).

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,410/mo compares to Massachusetts salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

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.

Worcester County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026

Year	Studio	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
FY 2026 ↑5.9%	$1,206	$1,410	$1,749	$2,247	$2,637
FY 2025 ↑7.6%	$1,139	$1,332	$1,661	$2,165	$2,475
FY 2024 ↑18.2%	$1,072	$1,238	$1,582	$2,055	$2,373
FY 2023 ↑20.2%	$989	$1,047	$1,358	$1,748	$2,040
FY 2022 ↑7.3%	$865	$871	$1,146	$1,447	$1,727
FY 2021 ↓0.7%	$807	$812	$1,070	$1,346	$1,569
FY 2020	$812	$818	$1,077	$1,358	$1,524

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.

Nearby Counties in Massachusetts

Largest counties by population 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.

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).

What this means for renters

Treat Worcester'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 $1,410 implies about $56,400/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 Worcester 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.

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.