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Metro FMR · CBSA 21820 · HUD FY2026
Fairbanks-College, AK MSA Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for the Fairbanks-College, AK MSA metro area - 33% above the US average.
- $1,277
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,676
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +0.4%
- YoY change
- +33%
- vs US avg
The verdict
A 2-bedroom in the Fairbanks-College, AK MSA area rents at $1,676 under HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent - 43% above the US average, higher than 78% of the 387 metro areas HUD tracks.
- #85
- priciest of 387 US metros (2BR)
- +43%
- vs the US 2-bedroom average
- $67,040
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +0.4%
- 1BR change, FY2025→2026
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents for the Fairbanks-College, AK MSA metro area. Population: 96,299. Verify with HUD →
What these rents mean for the Fairbanks-College, AK MSA metro
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule sets the Fairbanks-College, AK MSA Metro Area (CBSA 21820) 1-bedroom at $1,277, with a studio at $1,156, 2-bedroom at $1,676, 3-bedroom at $2,331, and 4-bedroom at $2,812. These are the 40th percentile of gross rents, utilities included, excluding telephone, meaning roughly 60% of standard-quality rentals in the metro cost more. Because HUD treats a metropolitan statistical area as a single rent market, every county inside the Fairbanks-College, AK MSA CBSA shares these FMR figures, and local housing authorities use them to set Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards (typically between 90% and 110% of FMR).
Against the national benchmark, a 1-bedroom in Fairbanks-College, AK MSA is 33% above the US 1-bedroom FMR of $959. Year-over-year the 1-bedroom FMR shifted from $1,272 in FY 2025 to $1,277 in FY 2026 - a change of +0.4%, which tracks roughly with broader price growth. Metro-level FMRs often diverge from the rents listed for any single suburb, so renters should view this as the HUD ceiling, not a street-level market rate.
For affordability, the 30% rule says rent should not exceed 30% of gross household income. At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,277, that implies a household income of $51,080 per year (about $4,257/month) - a 2-bedroom at $1,676 raises that income floor further. With a metro population of 96,299 and a median household income of $84,722, the gap between FMR and local wages determines how many households qualify as rent-burdened (paying more than 30% of income) or severely burdened (above 50%). Metro FMR also anchors the Small Area FMR program, which sets ZIP-level payment standards in designated metros to expand voucher choice into higher-opportunity neighborhoods.
Where Fairbanks-College sits among every US metro
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 387 HUD metro areas
$1,676 Top 22% higher than 78% of 387 metro areas
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more metro areas. 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
Fair Market Rents by bedroom (2026)
HUD's FY2026 ceiling for each unit size, with the year-over-year change and how it compares to the US average.
Studio
$1,156
US avg $893
↑1.0% YoY
+29% vs US
1 Bedroom
$1,277
US avg $959
↑0.4% YoY
+33% vs US
2 Bedroom
$1,676
US avg $1,175
↑0.4% YoY
+43% vs US
3 Bedroom
$2,331
US avg $1,525
↓0.3% YoY
+53% vs US
4 Bedroom
$2,812
US avg $1,756
↑0.3% YoY
+60% vs US
Year over year, the 1-bedroom moved from $1,272 in FY2025 to $1,277 in FY2026 - a change of +0.4%, roughly tracking broader price growth.
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Required annual income for 1 BR
$51,080
$4,257/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$67,040
$5,587/month gross
The local median household income is $84,722 - comfortably above the $67,040 needed to afford a 2-bedroom at FMR, leaving the median household with room under the 30% line.
How Fairbanks-College compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs metros with similar rent levels
- Fairbanks-College
Fairbanks-College, AK MSA
$1,277 1BR FMR / mo
- Anchorage
Anchorage, AK HUD Metro FMR Area
$1,243 1BR FMR / mo
- Alexandria
Alexandria, LA MSA
$780 1BR FMR / mo
- Decatur
Decatur, AL MSA
$776 1BR FMR / mo
- Florence-Muscle Shoals
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL MSA
$775 1BR FMR / mo
- Mansfield
Mansfield, OH MSA
$773 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Fairbanks-College is highlighted. Bars are FY2026 HUD 1-bedroom Fair Market Rents.
Nearby & Similar Metro Areas
Metro areas with a similar 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, this metro is highlighted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in the Fairbanks-College, AK MSA metro area? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Fairbanks-College, AK MSA is $1,277 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,676 and a studio is $1,156.
How does Fairbanks-College, AK MSA rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in the Fairbanks-College, AK MSA metro area is 33% above the national average. A 1-bedroom costs $1,277 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Fairbanks-College, AK MSA? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $51,080 ($4,257/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in the Fairbanks-College, AK MSA area.
Is rent going up or down in Fairbanks-College, AK MSA? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Fairbanks-College, AK MSA increased by 0.4% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,272 to $1,277.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Fairbanks-College, AK MSA? ▼
HUD uses Fair Market Rents to set maximum payment standards for Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) in the Fairbanks-College, AK MSA area. The FY 2026 FMR of $1,277/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline, local housing authorities can set their payment standard between 90% and 110% of FMR.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for the Fairbanks-College, AK MSA area? ▼
Fair Market Rent (FMR) is the 40th percentile rent estimate set by HUD for the Fairbanks-College, AK MSA metro area. It includes rent plus the cost of utilities (except telephone). FMR is used to determine housing assistance payment amounts, set rent ceilings for certain HUD programs, and evaluate housing affordability.
Rental Guides
How Fair Market Rent Works
What FMR means, how HUD calculates it, and why it matters for renters
Section 8 Housing Guide
How Housing Choice Vouchers work, eligibility, and applying
Understanding Rent Burden
The 30% rule, what cost-burdened means, and how to evaluate affordability
Rent vs. Buy Decision
When renting makes more financial sense than buying a home
Explore Fairbanks-College, AK MSA rent data
What this means for renters
Treat the Fairbanks-College area's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a street-level market rate.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,277 implies about $51,080/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this metro against others before you commit to an area. Compare metros
- See where it ranks among the metros HUD tracks. View rankings
Metro FMRs are HUD's 40th-percentile benchmark used to set voucher payment standards and often diverge from the rents listed in any single suburb. HUD updates FMRs once a year.
Data as of FY 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Market Rents. Population and demographic data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard quality units in each area. HUD publishes updated FMRs annually.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
FY 2026 HUD FMR $1,277/mo · 1BR AK
Update cadence
Annual (FY)
Refreshed within 30 days of HUD release
Source
HUD User
huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr.html
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