Rent by State: One-Bedroom Fair Market Rent Ranked (HUD)

One-bedroom rent by state
#	State	HUD 1-bedroom / month	Census median rent	Share of $60,000
1	West Virginia	$840	$872	16.8%
2	Wyoming	$865	$992	17.3%
3	Arkansas	$873	$947	17.5%
4	Iowa	$902	$972	18.0%
5	North Dakota	$911	$954	18.2%
6	Oklahoma	$914	$1,014	18.3%
7	Mississippi	$928	$954	18.6%
8	Kentucky	$946	$967	18.9%
9	South Dakota	$958	$946	19.2%
10	Louisiana	$973	$1,064	19.5%
11	Kansas	$1,004	$1,060	20.1%
12	Alabama	$1,010	$1,007	20.2%
13	Wisconsin	$1,020	$1,087	20.4%
14	Ohio	$1,027	$1,034	20.5%
15	Missouri	$1,035	$1,033	20.7%
16	Nebraska	$1,036	$1,072	20.7%
17	New Mexico	$1,051	$1,067	21.0%
18	Indiana	$1,082	$1,062	21.6%
19	Michigan	$1,101	$1,129	22.0%
20	Idaho	$1,132	$1,238	22.6%
21	Tennessee	$1,196	$1,189	23.9%
22	Montana	$1,223	$1,081	24.5%
23	Minnesota	$1,231	$1,280	24.6%
24	Utah	$1,231	$1,496	24.6%
25	South Carolina	$1,243	$1,180	24.9%
26	Texas	$1,247	$1,403	24.9%
27	Pennsylvania	$1,257	$1,209	25.1%
28	North Carolina	$1,282	$1,228	25.6%
29	Arizona	$1,361	$1,543	27.2%
30	Maine	$1,362	$1,139	27.2%
31	Georgia	$1,374	$1,393	27.5%
32	Oregon	$1,397	$1,525	27.9%
33	Nevada	$1,397	$1,597	27.9%
34	Delaware	$1,407	$1,401	28.1%
35	Vermont	$1,431	$1,234	28.6%
36	Illinois	$1,489	$1,274	29.8%
37	Rhode Island	$1,528	$1,342	30.6%
38	New Hampshire	$1,556	$1,491	31.1%
39	Virginia	$1,596	$1,579	31.9%
40	Colorado	$1,606	$1,761	32.1%
41	Florida	$1,665	$1,669	33.3%
42	Connecticut	$1,670	$1,488	33.4%
43	Washington	$1,701	$1,760	34.0%
44	Maryland	$1,801	$1,705	36.0%
45	New Jersey	$1,891	$1,720	37.8%
46	Massachusetts	$2,087	$1,762	41.7%
47	New York	$2,120	$1,621	42.4%
48	California	$2,151	$2,036	43.0%
49	District of Columbia	$2,204	$1,954	44.1%

State

HUD 1-bedroom / month

Census median rent

Share of $60,000

West Virginia

$840

$872

16.8%

Wyoming

$865

$992

17.3%

Arkansas

$873

$947

17.5%

Iowa

$902

$972

18.0%

North Dakota

$911

$954

18.2%

Oklahoma

$914

$1,014

18.3%

Mississippi

$928

$954

18.6%

Kentucky

$946

$967

18.9%

South Dakota

$958

$946

19.2%

Louisiana

$973

$1,064

19.5%

Kansas

$1,004

$1,060

20.1%

Alabama

$1,010

$1,007

20.2%

Wisconsin

$1,020

$1,087

20.4%

Ohio

$1,027

$1,034

20.5%

Missouri

$1,035

$1,033

20.7%

Nebraska

$1,036

$1,072

20.7%

New Mexico

$1,051

$1,067

21.0%

Indiana

$1,082

$1,062

21.6%

Michigan

$1,101

$1,129

22.0%

Idaho

$1,132

$1,238

22.6%

Tennessee

$1,196

$1,189

23.9%

Montana

$1,223

$1,081

24.5%

Minnesota

$1,231

$1,280

24.6%

Utah

$1,231

$1,496

24.6%

South Carolina

$1,243

$1,180

24.9%

Texas

$1,247

$1,403

24.9%

Pennsylvania

$1,257

$1,209

25.1%

North Carolina

$1,282

$1,228

25.6%

Arizona

$1,361

$1,543

27.2%

Maine

$1,362

$1,139

27.2%

Georgia

$1,374

$1,393

27.5%

Oregon

$1,397

$1,525

27.9%

Nevada

$1,397

$1,597

27.9%

Delaware

$1,407

$1,401

28.1%

Vermont

$1,431

$1,234

28.6%

Illinois

$1,489

$1,274

29.8%

Rhode Island

$1,528

$1,342

30.6%

New Hampshire

$1,556

$1,491

31.1%

Virginia

$1,596

$1,579

31.9%

Colorado

$1,606

$1,761

32.1%

Florida

$1,665

$1,669

33.3%

Connecticut

$1,670

$1,488

33.4%

Washington

$1,701

$1,760

34.0%

Maryland

$1,801

$1,705

36.0%

New Jersey

$1,891

$1,720

37.8%

Massachusetts

$2,087

$1,762

41.7%

New York

$2,120

$1,621

42.4%

California

$2,151

$2,036

43.0%

District of Columbia

$2,204

$1,954

44.1%

What a one-bedroom costs, state by state

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a one-bedroom apartment, weighted by county population, runs from $840 a month in West Virginia to $2,204 in District of Columbia. That is 2.6 times as much. Over a year the difference is $16,371.

Fair Market Rent is HUD's estimate of the 40th-percentile gross rent, including basic utilities, for standard units. It describes an apartment that is available to a typical renter, not a listing in the priciest neighborhood.

The Census measure

The Census Bureau's American Community Survey measures what renters actually pay for homes of every size. Its state medians range up to $2,036 a month in California. The two measures differ because the Census figure includes larger and older units and rents set years ago.

Rent against a $60,000 salary

A common rule says rent should stay under 30% of gross pay. For a $60,000 salary that is $1,500 a month. A weighted one-bedroom exceeds that ceiling in 13 states.

Method

Taxes use the 2025 rules for a single filer with wage income only and the standard deduction. Housing and living costs are county figures from HUD (one-bedroom Fair Market Rent), the USDA Thrifty Food Plan and state energy prices from the Energy Information Administration, averaged across each state's counties and weighted by population, so large counties count more. Local income taxes are not included.

Frequently asked questions

Which state has the cheapest rent?

West Virginia, where the population-weighted HUD one-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $840 a month.

Which state has the most expensive rent?

District of Columbia, at $2,204 a month for a one-bedroom.

Why do two rent figures appear?

HUD Fair Market Rent is a benchmark for a one-bedroom apartment; the Census median gross rent covers all rented homes. Use HUD for a new lease and the Census figure for what current renters pay.

Methodology & sources

The calculators use the same rules as every salary page on this site: a single filer with wage income only, the standard deduction and tax year 2025 tax rules. Local income taxes, payroll levies such as state disability insurance, health insurance, retirement contributions and debt payments are not included. Results are estimates for comparison, not tax advice.

Rent by state