HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2026 · effective Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026
Fair Market Rent in Muskingum County, Ohio (FY 2026)
$973 a month. That's HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Muskingum County, and it's the baseline every voucher in Muskingum is measured against.
2 bedroom FMR
$973
FY 2026, utilities included
Payment standard range
$876 to $1,070
90% to 110% of FMR
Income to afford 2BR
$38,920
per year, at 30% of income
Rank in Ohio
76th of 88
by 2BR FMR
HUD has already published FY 2027. On October 1, 2026 the two-bedroom rate in Muskingum moves to $1,003. That's up 3%. The full FY 2027 table is in the history section below.
HUD's number is one input. What does a two-bedroom in Muskingum actually rent for?
Search any address in Muskingum 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 | $815 | $734 to $897 | $32,600 | $15.67/hr | +14.5% |
| 1 bedroom | $820 | $738 to $902 | $32,800 | $15.77/hr | +14.5% |
| 2 bedroom | $973 | $876 to $1,070 | $38,920 | $18.71/hr | +10.1% |
| 3 bedroom | $1,324 | $1,192 to $1,456 | $52,960 | $25.46/hr | +9.6% |
| 4 bedroom | $1,438 | $1,294 to $1,582 | $57,520 | $27.65/hr | +10.5% |
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 | $1,654 | $1,489 to $1,819 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $1,869 | $1,682 to $2,056 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $2,085 | $1,877 to $2,294 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $2,301 | $2,071 to $2,531 |
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 Muskingum, that runs from $815 for a studio up to $1,438 for four bedrooms, all five rates in the table above.
Because Muskingum 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, Zanesville included.
Among Ohio's 88 counties, Muskingum ranks 76th for two-bedroom FMR. That's about 4% below the state median of $1,016 and about 4% below the national median county at $1,018. About 86,393 people live here, 31st in the state.
Rates by ZIP code
Zoom in and the picture changes. HUD's Small Area FMRs put a two-bedroom at $970 in 43702 (Zanesville) and $1,130 in 43746 (Hopewell), with the 18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43701 | Zanesville | $1,010 | +3.8% |
| 43702 | Zanesville | $970 | -0.3% |
| 43720 | Blue Rock | $980 | +0.7% |
| 43727 | Chandlersville | $990 | +1.7% |
| 43734 | Duncan Falls | $1,000 | +2.8% |
| 43735 | East Fultonham | $990 | +1.7% |
| 43738 | Fultonham | $970 | -0.3% |
| 43746 | Hopewell | $1,130 | +16.1% |
| 43762 | New Concord | $1,000 | +2.8% |
| 43767 | Norwich | $1,010 | +3.8% |
| 43771 | Philo | $970 | -0.3% |
| 43777 | Roseville | $970 | -0.3% |
| 43791 | White Cottage | $1,010 | +3.8% |
| 43802 | Adamsville | $1,020 | +4.8% |
| 43821 | Dresden | $1,090 | +12.0% |
| 43822 | Frazeysburg | $1,070 | +10.0% |
| 43830 | Nashport | $1,120 | +15.1% |
| 43842 | Trinway | $1,090 | +12.0% |
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 Muskingum somewhere between $876 and $1,070. 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.
$973 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $38,920 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% ($876) | HAP at 100% ($973) | HAP at 110% ($1,070) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $126 | $223 | $320 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went up 10% from FY 2025 ($884) to FY 2026 ($973). Since FY 2020 it's up 35% in total, about 5.2% a year. The Ohio median moved up 9% over the same year.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2BR change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $499 | $568 | $719 | $896 | $1,066 | — |
| FY 2021 | $576 | $579 | $754 | $938 | $1,099 | +4.9% |
| FY 2022 | $568 | $572 | $752 | $957 | $1,056 | -0.3% |
| FY 2023 | $615 | $619 | $806 | $1,062 | $1,122 | +7.2% |
| FY 2024 | $678 | $682 | $873 | $1,164 | $1,225 | +8.3% |
| FY 2025 | $712 | $716 | $884 | $1,208 | $1,301 | +1.3% |
| FY 2026 | $815 | $820 | $973 | $1,324 | $1,438 | +10.1% |
| FY 2027 | $862 | $867 | $1,003 | $1,355 | $1,496 | +3.1% |
Nearby counties
Questions people ask
$973 a month for FY 2026, which runs October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The other rates are $815 for a studio, $820 for one bedroom, $1,324 for three and $1,438 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 Muskingum actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in Muskingum for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. 3 free searches, no card.
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