State FMR profile · HUD FY2026

Fair Market Rents in Maine

The average 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent across Maine is $1,153/mo — 20% above the US average.

$1,153
Avg 1BR FMR
16
Counties
3
Metro areas

The verdict

Maine's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent averages $1,448 — 23% above the US average, the 16th highest of 51 states.

#16
most expensive of 51 states (2BR)
+23%
vs the US 2-bedroom average
$57,920
income to afford it (30% rule)
49%
gap, cheapest→priciest county

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents for 16 counties and 3 metro areas in ME. Verify with HUD →

What these rents mean for Maine

Across Maine's 16 counties and 3 metro areas, HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rents average $1,080 for a studio, $1,153 for a 1-bedroom, $1,448 for a 2-bedroom, $1,917 for a 3-bedroom, and $2,133 for a 4-bedroom. FMR is set at the county or metro FMR area level — not statewide — so the numbers above are the arithmetic average of every FMR area inside ME, weighted equally. Local housing authorities use each county's or metro's FMR (not the state average) to calibrate Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards, typically ranging from 90% to 110% of FMR.

Benchmarked against the rest of the country, Maine's average 1-bedroom FMR of $1,153 is 20% above the US average of $959. Inside the state, rents are not uniform — the cheapest 1-bedroom FMR is in Aroostook County at $949, while the most expensive is in York County at $1,412, a spread of roughly 49% between the lowest- and highest-cost counties. That intra-state dispersion is why urban voucher recipients, families relocating for jobs, and landlords setting Section 8 rents all need to check the specific FMR area rather than rely on a statewide figure.

For affordability, the 30% rule implies a household income of $46,120 per year (about $3,843/month) to afford Maine's average 1-bedroom at $1,153. The ratio of FMR to local wages determines how many households are rent-burdened. Pair these rent figures with Maine's rent burden rankings and year-over-year rent growth pages to see which counties are tightening fastest and which remain comparatively affordable.

Where Maine sits among all 50 states + DC

Average 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. every US state

$1,448 Top 31% higher than 69% of 51 states

$900–$1,000: 11 states (22%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,100: 7 states (14%). Below this entry. $1,100–$1,200: 8 states (16%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,300: 2 states (4%). Below this entry. $1,300–$1,400: 3 states (6%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,500: 8 states (16%). This entry sits in this band. $1,500–$1,600: 3 states (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,700: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $1,700–$1,800: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $1,800–$1,900: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $1,900–$2,000: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,100: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $2,100–$2,200: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,300: 2 states (4%). Above this entry. $2,300–$2,400: 0 states (0%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,500: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. ME $900 $2,500 every US state, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.1K-wide band; taller bars hold more states. 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

State Average vs National Average

Studio
$1,080
+21% vs US avg
1 BR
$1,153
+20% vs US avg
2 BR
$1,448
+23% vs US avg
3 BR
$1,917
+26% vs US avg
4 BR
$2,133
+21% vs US avg

Most expensive counties in Maine by 1-bedroom FMR

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent — the highest-cost 10 of 16 ME counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Inside ME, 1-bedroom FMR runs from $949 in Aroostook County to $1,412 in York County.

Source HUD Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau ACS data As of FY2026

Cheapest Counties

Lowest FMR rental costs →

Most Expensive Counties

Highest FMR rental costs →

Rent Burden

% of income spent on rent →

Rent Growth

YoY rent trends by county →

Metro areas in Maine

Each metro FMR area applies one rent schedule across all its counties, ranked here by 1-bedroom FMR.

# Metro area Studio1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BR
1 Cumberland County, ME (part) HUD Metro FMR Area $1,264$1,397$1,833$2,380$3,038
2 Lewiston-Auburn, ME MSA $1,140$1,218$1,586$2,050$2,305
3 Penobscot County, ME (part) HUD Metro FMR Area $982$1,061$1,392$1,799$2,010

Counties in Maine, ranked by rent (16)

All 16 counties with a published FY2026 Fair Market Rent, highest 1-bedroom first.

# County Studio1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BR
1 York County $1,281$1,412$1,716$2,298$2,561
2 Cumberland County $1,264$1,397$1,833$2,380$3,038
3 Lincoln County $1,222$1,280$1,403$1,936$1,943
4 Knox County $1,223$1,270$1,526$1,928$2,085
5 Sagadahoc County $1,105$1,264$1,577$2,193$2,645
6 Hancock County $1,227$1,234$1,501$2,047$2,055
7 Androscoggin County $1,140$1,218$1,586$2,050$2,305
8 Waldo County $1,156$1,163$1,438$1,865$2,025
9 Kennebec County $1,082$1,090$1,416$1,819$2,158
10 Somerset County $1,015$1,083$1,266$1,689$1,812
11 Piscataquis County $978$1,081$1,419$1,701$1,879
12 Penobscot County $982$1,061$1,392$1,799$2,010
13 Franklin County $911$1,008$1,322$1,750$1,757
14 Oxford County $893$989$1,295$1,801$2,172
15 Washington County $863$954$1,252$1,739$1,943
16 Aroostook County $942$949$1,224$1,672$1,739

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Maine? ▼
The average FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Maine is $1,153 per month. A 2-bedroom averages $1,448.
How does Maine rent compare to the national average? ▼
Maine rents are 20% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here averages $1,153 vs $959 nationally.
Where is the cheapest rent in Maine? ▼
The most affordable county is Aroostook County with a 1-bedroom FMR of $949. The most expensive is York County at $1,412.
What income do I need to afford rent in Maine? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need at least $46,120/year ($3,843/month) to afford the average 1-bedroom FMR in Maine.

Explore Maine rent data

Rent burden → Rent growth → Cheapest counties → Most expensive counties → National rent-burden rankings → Affordability calculator →

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Related

Browse all → | Rankings →
Data sourced from HUD Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau ACS data. See our methodology for details. Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rent data (huduser.gov).