Fair Market Rents (FMRs) represent the estimated amount (base rent + essential utilities) that a property in a given area typically rents for. The data are primarily used to determine payment standard amounts for the Housing Choice Voucher program. However, FMRs are also used to determine initial renewal rents for expiring project-based Section 8 contracts, determine initial rents for housing assistance payment (HAP) contracts in the Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy program (Mod Rehab), rent ceilings for rental units in both the HOME Investment Partnerships program and the Emergency Solution Grants (ESG) program, calculate of maximum award amounts for Continuum of Care recipients and the maximum amount of rent a recipient may pay for property leased with Continuum of Care funds, and calculate flat rent amounts in Public Housing Units.

Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs) are FMRs calculated for ZIP Codes. Small Area FMRs are required to be used to set Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards in areas designated by HUD (available here). Other Housing Agencies operating in non-designated metropolitan areas or non-metropolitan counties may opt-in to the use of Small Area FMRs. Furthermore, Small Area FMRs may be used as the basis for setting Exception Payment Standards – PHAs may set exception payment standards up to 110 percent of the Small Area FMR. PHAs administering Public Housing units may use Small Area FMRs as an alternative to metropolitan area-wide FMRs when calculating Flat Rents. Please See HUD’s Small Area FMR Final Rule for additional information regarding the uses of Small Area FMRs.

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are used to determine payment standard amounts for the Housing Choice Voucher program, to determine initial renewal rents for some expiring project-based Section 8 contracts, to determine initial rents for housing assistance payment (HAP) contracts in the Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy program (Mod Rehab), rent ceilings for rental units in both the HOME Investment Partnerships program and the Emergency Solution Grants program, calculation of maximum award amounts for Continuum of Care recipients and the maximum amount of rent a recipient may pay for property leased with Continuum of Care funds, and calculation of flat rents in Public Housing units. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annually estimates FMRs for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defined metropolitan areas, some HUD defined subdivisions of OMB metropolitan areas and each nonmetropolitan county. 42 USC 1437f requires FMRs be posted at least 30 days before they are effective and that they are effective at the start of the federal fiscal year (generally October 1).

Virginia (VA) has the 19th highest rent in the country out of 56 states and territories. The Fair Market Rent in Virginia ranges from $701 for a 2-bedroom apartment in Grayson County, VA to $1,765 for a 2-bedroom unit in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area.

For FY 2024, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area (Arlington County) rent for a studio or efficiency is $1,772 per month and $3,015 per month to rent a house or an apartment with 4 bedrooms. The average Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom home in Virginia is $1,056 per month.

Approximately 15% of Americans qualify for some level of housing assistance. The population in Virginia is around 2,038,847 people. So, there are around 305,827 people in Virginia who could be receiving housing benefits from the HUD. For FY 2025, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area (Arlington County) rent for a studio or efficiency is $2,012 per month and $3,413 per month to rent a house or an apartment with 4 bedrooms. The average Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom home in Virginia is $1,059 per month.

Due to the increasing demand for more localized rents for a variety of purposes, HUD is making Small Area FMRs for all metropolitan areas available. Small Area FMRs are only permitted to be used to set Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards in the Dallas, TX HUD Metropolitan FMR Area and by PHAs participating in the Small Area FMR Demonstration Program.

Rent estimates at the 50th percentile (or median) are calculated for all Fair Market Rent areas. Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are primarily used to determine payment standard amounts for the Housing Choice Voucher program, to determine initial renewal rents for some expiring project-based Section 8 contracts, to determine initial rents for housing assistance payment (HAP) contracts in the Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy program (Mod Rehab), and to serve as a rent ceiling in the HOME rental assistance program. FMRs are gross rent estimates. They include the shelter rent plus the cost of all tenant-paid utilities, except telephones, cable or satellite television service, and internet service. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annually estimates FMRs for 530 metropolitan areas and 2,045 nonmetropolitan county FMR areas. Under certain conditions, as set forth in the Interim Rule (Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 191, Monday October 2, 2000, pages 58870-58875), these 50th percentile rents can be used to set success rate payment standards.

Fair Market RentsThis National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA) dataset, shared as a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) feature layer, displays fair market rents (FMR) in the United States. According to HUD, "Fair Market Rents (FMRs) represent the estimated amount (base rent + essential utilities) that a property in a given area typically rents for. The data are primarily used to determine payment standard amounts for the Housing Choice Voucher program. However, FMRs are also used to determine initial renewal rents for expiring project-based Section 8 contracts, determine initial rents for housing assistance payment (HAP) contracts in the Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy program (Mod Rehab), rent ceilings for rental units in both the HOME Investment Partnerships program and the Emergency Solution Grants (ESG) program, calculate of maximum award amounts for Continuum of Care recipients and the maximum amount of rent a recipient may pay for property leased with Continuum of Care funds, and calculate flat rent amounts in Public Housing Units."Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)Data currency: current Federal service (Fair Market Rents)NGDAID: 122 (Fair Market Rents (Fair Market Rents For The Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program) - National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA))For more information, please visit: Fair Market RentsSupport documentation: Fair Market Rents (FMRs)For feedback, please contact: Esri_US_Federal_Data@esri.comNGDA Data SetThis data set is part of the NGDA Real Property Theme Community. Per the Federal Geospatial Data Committee (FGDC), Real Property is defined as "the spatial representation (location) of real property entities, typically consisting of one or more of the following: unimproved land, a building, a structure, site improvements and the underlying land. Complex real property entities (that is "facilities") are used for a broad spectrum of functions or missions. This theme focuses on spatial representation of real property assets only and does not seek to describe special purpose functions of real property such as those found in the Cultural Resources, Transportation, or Utilities themes."For other NGDA Content: Esri Federal Datasets

Small Area Fair Market Rent Demonstration Evaluation Datahttps://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/SAFMR-demonstration-evaluation-data.html

Due to the increasing demand for more localized rents for a variety of purposes, HUD is making Small Area FMRs for all metropolitan areas available. Small Area FMRs are only permitted to be used to set Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards in the Dallas, TX HUD Metropolitan FMR Area and by PHAs participating in the Small Area FMR Demonstration Program.

This feature service outlines relationships between Zip Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) used to denote Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs) and the Fair Market Rents (FMRs) calculated for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and County geographies. Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs) are FMRs calculated for ZIP Codes within Metropolitan Areas. Small Area FMRs are required to be used to set Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards in areas designated by HUD (available here). Other Housing Agencies operating in non-designated metropolitan areas may opt-in to the use of Small Area FMRs. Furthermore, Small Area FMRs may be used as the basis for setting Exception Payment Standards – PHAs may set exception payment standards up to 110 percent of the Small Area FMR. PHAs administering Public Housing units may use Small Area FMRs as an alternative to metropolitan area-wide FMRs when calculating Flat Rents.

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) represent the estimated amount (base rent + essential utilities) that a property in a given area typically rents for. The data is primarily used to determine payment standard amounts for the Housing Choice Voucher program; however, FMRs are also used to:

Determine initial renewal rents for expiring project-based Section 8 contracts;

Determine initial rents for housing assistance payment (HAP) contracts in the Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy program (Mod Rehab), rent ceilings for rental units in both the HOME Investment Partnerships program and the Emergency Solution Grants (ESG) program;

Calculate of maximum award amounts for Continuum of Care recipients and the maximum amount of rent a recipient may pay for property leased with Continuum of Care funds, and;

Calculate flat rent amounts in Public Housing Units.

Data is updated annualy in accordance with 42 USC 1437f which requires FMRs be posted at least 30 days before they are effective and that they are effective at the start of the federal fiscal year, October 1st.In order to calculate rents for units with more than four bedrooms, an extra 15% cost is added to the four bedroom unit value. The formula is to multiply the four bedroom rent by 1.15. For example, in FY21 the rent for a four bedroom unit in the El Centro, California Micropolitan Statistical Area is $1,444. The rent for a five bedroom unit would be $1,444 * 1.15 or $1,661. Each subsequent bedroom is an additional 15%. A six bedroom unit would be $1,444 * 1.3 or $1,877. These values are not included in the feature service.

To learn more about Fair Market Rents visit: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr.html/

Data Dictionary: DD_Fair Market Rents

Date of Coverage: FY2024 : Oct. 1 - Sept. 30

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are primarily used to determine payment standard amounts for the Housing Choice Voucher program, to determine initial renewal rents for some expiring project-based Section 8 contracts, to determine initial rents for housing assistance payment (HAP) contracts in the Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy program (Mod Rehab), and to serve as a rent ceiling in the HOME rental assistance program. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annually estimates FMRs for 530 metropolitan areas and 2,045 nonmetropolitan county FMR areas. By law the final FMRs for use in any fiscal year must be published and available for use at the start of that fiscal year, on October 1.

This dataset and map service provides information on Fair Market Rents (FMRs). FMRs are primarily used to determine payment standard amounts for the Housing Choice Voucher program, initial renewal rents for some expiring project-based Section 8 contracts, initial rents for housing assistance payment (HAP) contracts in the Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy program (Mod Rehab), and to serve as a rent ceiling in the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) for rental assistance. HUD annually estimates FMRs for 530 metropolitan areas and 2,045 nonmetropolitan county FMR areas. By law the final FMRs for use in any Fiscal Year must be published and available for use at the start of that Fiscal Year, on October 1.

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) represent the estimated amount (base rent + essential utilities) that a property in a given area typically rents for. The data is primarily used to determine payment standard amounts for the Housing Choice Voucher program; however, FMRs are also used to:

Determine initial renewal rents for expiring project-based Section 8 contracts;

Determine initial rents for housing assistance payment (HAP) contracts in the Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy program (Mod Rehab), rent ceilings for rental units in both the HOME Investment Partnerships program and the Emergency Solution Grants (ESG) program;

Calculate of maximum award amounts for Continuum of Care recipients and the maximum amount of rent a recipient may pay for property leased with Continuum of Care funds, and;

Calculate flat rent amounts in Public Housing Units.

Data is updated annualy in accordance with 42 USC 1437f which requires FMRs be posted at least 30 days before they are effective and that they are effective at the start of the federal fiscal year, October 1st.In order to calculate rents for units with more than four bedrooms, an extra 15% cost is added to the four bedroom unit value. The formula is to multiply the four bedroom rent by 1.15. For example, in FY21 the rent for a four bedroom unit in the El Centro, California Micropolitan Statistical Area is $1,444. The rent for a five bedroom unit would be $1,444 * 1.15 or $1,661. Each subsequent bedroom is an additional 15%. A six bedroom unit would be $1,444 * 1.3 or $1,877. These values are not included in the feature service.

To learn more about Fair Market Rents visit: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr.html/

Data Dictionary: DD_Fair Market Rents

Date of Coverage: FY2022 Data Updated: Annuallyhttps://catalog.data.gov/dataset/fair-market-rents-fair-market-rents-for-the-section-8-housing-assistance-payments-program-

2002 FMR (Fair Market Rents) dataset for Virginia from hud.gov.
Includes:
"Final Data
2002 Final Fair Market Rents in WORD, MS Excel or as EXECUTABLE FILE. When extracted the *.exe file produces a dBASE III file and a text file that explains the fields of the *.dbf file.
2002 Final Fair Market Rents in TEXT (preamble only) or PDF (entire document).
2002 Final Fair Market Rents Preamble (only) in WORD.

Proposed Data
Federal Register: Preamble and published tables in pdf, dated May 9, 2001.
Data File: FMR2002P.exe. When extracted this .exe file produces a dBASE III file and a text file that explains the fields in the .dbf file.."

http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/fmr/fmr2002/index.html

This layer is intended for researchers, students, policy makers, and the general public for reference and mapping purposes, and may be used for basic applications such as viewing, querying, and map output production. This layer will provide a basemap for layers related to socio-political analysis, statistical enumeration and analysis, or to support graphical overlays and analysis with other spatial data. More advanced user applications may focus on demographics, urban and rural land use planning, socio-economic analysis and related areas (including defining boundaries, managing assets and facilities, integrating attribute databases with geographic features, spatial analysis, and presentation output.)

In 2025, a two-bedroom apartment in Fort Lauderdale HMFA had a fair market rent of about ***** U.S. dollars monthly, making it the most expensive metropolitan area in Florida. This also happens to be the metropolitan area with the highest hourly wage required to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Florida. On the other hand, the Levy County HMFA metro was the most affordable, requiring renters to spend at least *** U.S. dollars respectively in monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment.

This dataset consists of the small area fair market rents (FMRs) published annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Small areas correspond to zip codes. The FMRs in this dataset are confined to the Atlanta metro area and include FMRs for the most recent year, the previous year and four years ago along with the percent change between those years. Small Area FMRs are required to be used to set Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards in areas designated by HUD. Additional information can be found at https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/smallarea/index.html.

This layer includes the polygon boundaries Payment Standards based on the 2025 HUD Small Area Fair Market Rent (SAFMR) amounts for all zipcodes in Metro HRA's Housing Choice Voucher program service area. Detailed information and background documentation regarding SAFMRs can be found at https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/smallarea/

In 2025, the average Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom rental home in the United States was 1,749 U.S. dollars per month, while that of a one-bedroom rental home was 1,465 U.S. dollars per month. This rent level was unaffordable for the average household with one full-time worker earning the federal minimum wage in that year.