FY 2026 HUD SAFMR Mesa +23% vs US

ZIP HUD FMR profile

81524 Loma, CO Fair Market Rent

FY 2026 HUD Small Area FMR for ZIP 81524 (Grand Junction, CO MSA). ZIP-specific schedule - not county-wide FMR, not current asking rent.

$1,180
1-bedroom SAFMR / mo
+23%
vs US average
$47,200
Income needed (30% rule)

Loma, CO — Mesa. Population: 2,300 (Census). FY 2026 HUD Small Area FMR.

How this rate was derived: HUD publishes Small Area Fair Market Rents at the ZIP code level for designated metros. ZIP 81524 uses the FY 2026 SAFMR for Grand Junction, CO MSA ($1,180 1BR). The county-wide FMR schedule for Mesa may differ; this page prefers the ZIP-specific SAFMR. Apartments may rent above or below FMR, which is HUD's 40th-percentile gross-rent estimate, not live asking rent.

The displayed HUD FMR for ZIP 81524 (Loma) is 23% above the national average and 2% above the state average. A 1-bedroom benchmark is $1,180/mo compared to $959 nationally. Source: HUD Small Area FMR. You need at least $47,200/year to afford a 1-bedroom at this FMR (30% rule).

What the FMR for ZIP 81524 actually means

HUD publishes Small Area Fair Market Rents at the ZIP code level for designated metros. ZIP 81524 (Loma, CO) is covered by Grand Junction, CO MSA, so FY 2026 figures here are ZIP-specific: $1,180 for a 1-bedroom, studio $1,060, 2-bedroom $1,500, 3-bedroom $2,080, and 4-bedroom $2,500. These are 40th-percentile gross rents (utilities except telephone), not live asking rents. Housing Choice Voucher payment standards are typically set between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR/SAFMR.

Because this page uses SAFMR, nearby ZIPs in Mesa can show different bedroom figures. Against the national benchmark the 1-bedroom SAFMR here is 23% above the US average of $959, and 2% above the CO state average of $1,161.

For budgeting, the 30% affordability rule says rent should not exceed 30% of gross household income. At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,180, that implies a household income of $47,200 per year (about $3,933/month) to avoid being cost-burdened, a 2-bedroom at $1,500 lifts that threshold higher still. ZIP 81524 has a population of 2,300 residents, so the gap between these FMR figures and local wages shapes how many households qualify as rent-burdened (paying more than 30% of income) or severely burdened (above 50%).

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,083 · US avg: $893
$1,060/mo
↑ 21.4% YoY -2% vs state +19% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,161 · US avg: $959
$1,180/mo
↑ 22.8% YoY +2% vs state +23% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,429 · US avg: $1,175
$1,500/mo
↑ 20.5% YoY +5% vs state +28% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,861 · US avg: $1,525
$2,080/mo
↑ 19.2% YoY +12% vs state +36% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,178 · US avg: $1,756
$2,500/mo
↑ 19.6% YoY +15% vs state +42% vs US

Affordability Snapshot

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

Required annual income for 1 BR
$47,200
$3,933/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$60,000
$5,000/month gross

County Information

ZIP 81524 is in Mesa. HUD sets Fair Market Rents at the county level, so all ZIP codes within Mesa share the same FMR.

Nearby ZIP Codes in Mesa

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HUD Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 81524?
The FY 2026 HUD Small Area FMR for a 1-bedroom in ZIP 81524 (Loma, CO) is $1,180 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,500 and a studio is $1,060. These are ZIP-level SAFMR figures from HUD for Grand Junction, CO MSA, not asking rents.
How does the FMR in 81524 compare to the national average?
The displayed 1-bedroom FMR for ZIP 81524 is 23% above the national average ($1,180 vs $959).
What income do I need to afford the FMR in 81524?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $47,200 to afford a 1-bedroom at the displayed HUD FMR in ZIP 81524 (Loma, CO).
What county is ZIP code 81524 in?
ZIP 81524 is in Mesa, CO. This page uses HUD's Small Area FMR for the ZIP (Grand Junction, CO MSA), which can differ from the county-wide FMR schedule.

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Data source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. ZIP-to-county mapping from U.S. Census Bureau. FMRs are set at the county or metro level; individual ZIP code rents may vary.