HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2026 · effective Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026
Fair Market Rent in Washington County, Alabama (FY 2026)
A two-bedroom in Washington County carries a FY 2026 Fair Market Rent of $983 a month, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Everything Section 8 pays in Washington keys off that figure.
2 bedroom FMR
$983
FY 2026, utilities included
Payment standard range
$885 to $1,081
90% to 110% of FMR
Income to afford 2BR
$39,320
per year, at 30% of income
Rank in Alabama
23rd of 67
by 2BR FMR
HUD has already published FY 2027. On October 1, 2026 the two-bedroom rate in Washington moves to $921. That's down 6%. The full FY 2027 table is in the history section below.
HUD's number is one input. What does a two-bedroom in Washington actually rent for?
Search any address in Washington for a rent estimate built from nearby comps, with the HUD figure right next to it.
FY 2026 Fair Market Rents
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard | Income needed | Hourly wage | vs FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $729 | $656 to $802 | $29,160 | $14.02/hr | -10.0% |
| 1 bedroom | $818 | $736 to $900 | $32,720 | $15.73/hr | -9.9% |
| 2 bedroom | $983 | $885 to $1,081 | $39,320 | $18.90/hr | -10.0% |
| 3 bedroom | $1,292 | $1,163 to $1,421 | $51,680 | $24.85/hr | -10.0% |
| 4 bedroom | $1,314 | $1,183 to $1,445 | $52,560 | $25.27/hr | -9.9% |
5 to 8 bedrooms (PropMetrics estimates)
HUD stops at four bedrooms. These add 15% of the four-bedroom rent per extra bedroom. It's our estimate, not a HUD number.
| Bedrooms | Estimated FMR | Payment standard |
|---|---|---|
| 5 bedroom Estimate | $1,511 | $1,360 to $1,662 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $1,708 | $1,537 to $1,879 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $1,905 | $1,715 to $2,096 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $2,102 | $1,892 to $2,312 |
Source: HUD Office of Policy Development and Research, FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. Rents include utilities. huduser.gov
Fair Market Rent is HUD's estimate of what a modest, decent unit rents for in an area, utilities included. It's set once a year and runs October to September. For FY 2026 that's October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. In Washington, that runs from $729 for a studio up to $1,314 for four bedrooms, all five rates in the table above.
Because Washington sits outside any HUD metro area, its rate is a county-wide figure built from local rents. One number covers every address in the county, Calvert included.
Among Alabama's 67 counties, Washington ranks 23rd for two-bedroom FMR. That's about 12% above the state median of $879 and about 3% below the national median county at $1,018. About 15,434 people live here, 53rd in the state.
Rates by ZIP code
Zoom in and the picture changes. HUD's Small Area FMRs put a two-bedroom at $960 in 36513 (Calvert) and $1,190 in 36581 (Sunflower), with the 14 ZIP codes in between. Housing authorities in HUD-designated metros use those ZIP rates instead of the county rate. Everywhere else the ZIP numbers show where rents actually sit, and the county rate stays the official standard.
| ZIP | City | 2BR rate | vs county |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36513 | Calvert | $960 | -2.3% |
| 36518 | Chatom | $1,000 | +1.7% |
| 36529 | Deer Park | $990 | +0.7% |
| 36538 | Frankville | $990 | +0.7% |
| 36539 | Fruitdale | $1,100 | +11.9% |
| 36548 | Leroy | $1,040 | +5.8% |
| 36553 | Mc Intosh | $990 | +0.7% |
| 36556 | Malcolm | $1,010 | +2.7% |
| 36558 | Millry | $990 | +0.7% |
| 36569 | Saint Stephens | $990 | +0.7% |
| 36581 | Sunflower | $1,190 | +21.1% |
| 36583 | Tibbie | $1,120 | +13.9% |
| 36584 | Vinegar Bend | $990 | +0.7% |
| 36585 | Wagarville | $1,190 | +21.1% |
What a voucher pays here
The voucher doesn't pay the FMR itself. It pays the payment standard. Housing authorities set it anywhere from 90% to 110% of FMR, which puts a two-bedroom standard in Washington somewhere between $885 and $1,081. The tenant pays roughly 30% of their income, the voucher covers the rest up to the standard, and the PHA won't approve a rent above what comparable unassisted units get.
$983 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $39,320 a year. Put another way, $19 an hour full time.
Worked example for a two-bedroom, assuming the rent equals the payment standard. Tenant pays 30% of monthly income, HUD's housing assistance payment covers the rest.
| Monthly household income | Tenant pays (30%) | HAP at 90% ($885) | HAP at 100% ($983) | HAP at 110% ($1,081) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $135 | $233 | $331 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went down 10% from FY 2025 ($1,092) to FY 2026 ($983). Since FY 2020 it's up 59% in total, about 8.0% a year. The Alabama median moved up 3% over the same year.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2BR change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $478 | $489 | $618 | $794 | $837 | — |
| FY 2021 | $489 | $504 | $648 | $852 | $951 | +4.9% |
| FY 2022 | $543 | $566 | $705 | $901 | $956 | +8.8% |
| FY 2023 | $661 | $712 | $883 | $1,075 | $1,252 | +25.2% |
| FY 2024 | $713 | $785 | $962 | $1,163 | $1,302 | +8.9% |
| FY 2025 | $810 | $908 | $1,092 | $1,435 | $1,459 | +13.5% |
| FY 2026 | $729 | $818 | $983 | $1,292 | $1,314 | -10.0% |
| FY 2027 | $699 | $737 | $921 | $1,211 | $1,539 | -6.3% |
Nearby counties
Questions people ask
$983 a month for FY 2026, which runs October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The other rates are $729 for a studio, $818 for one bedroom, $1,292 for three and $1,314 for four.
Tools for this county
Fair Market Rent lookup
Look up any ZIP code's Small Area FMR by bedroom count.
Section 8 rent calculator
Work out the payment standard and tenant share for a specific rent.
What is Fair Market Rent?
How HUD calculates FMR and what it means for landlords.
Rent affordability calculator
See what income a household needs for a given rent.
What does a rental in Washington actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in Washington for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. 3 free searches, no card.
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