Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Fair Market Rent (FY2026)
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX HUD Metro FMR Area · TX · 7 counties · pop. 6,737,597 (2023)
The FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX is $1,573/month. Across bedroom sizes the HUD FMR runs from $1,280 (studio) to $2,639 (4-bedroom). That 2-bedroom figure is $598 above the US national median FMR of $975 — far above the national median FMR — and ranks #51 of 75 among the largest metros (1 = most expensive). FMR is the federal voucher rent standard, not the market median.
Source: HUD USER, FY2026 Fair Market Rents (40th percentile, revised final). Data as of June 2026.
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX FMR by bedroom size
| Unit size | Monthly FMR | ≈ Weekly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $1,280 | $296 | $15,360 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,323 | $306 | $15,876 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,573 | $363 | $18,876 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,116 | $489 | $25,392 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,639 | $609 | $31,668 |
Source: HUD USER, FY2026 Fair Market Rents (40th percentile, revised final). Data as of June 2026.
Weekly and annual figures are simple conversions of the monthly FMR (÷4.33 and ×12). The monthly FMR is HUD's published value. Verify on huduser.gov.
What this FMR means
Fair Market Rent is HUD's estimate of the 40th-percentile gross rent — contract rent plus tenant-paid utilities — for a modest, non-luxury unit in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX. It is recalculated each fiscal year from American Community Survey rent data and a current-year inflation factor. Public housing agencies use the FMR to set Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standards, typically 90–110% of the FMR. A higher FMR means the program will cover a higher rent in this area; it does not mean landlords charge exactly this much.
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX vs its state and the US
| Benchmark | 2-bedroom FMR |
|---|---|
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $1,573 |
| Texas state median | $1,015 |
| US national median | $975 |
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX sits in Texas, where the median area's 2-bedroom FMR is $1,015 and areas range from $973 to $1,931.
Metro areas with a similar FMR
The five areas closest to Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX on the 2-bedroom FMR scale:
| Metro area | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX (this area) | $1,280 | $1,323 | $1,573 | $2,116 | $2,639 |
| Rochester, NY | $1,116 | $1,256 | $1,573 | $1,895 | $2,083 |
| Richmond, VA | $1,442 | $1,507 | $1,655 | $2,072 | $2,553 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $1,355 | $1,382 | $1,658 | $2,043 | $2,561 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $1,132 | $1,140 | $1,483 | $2,062 | $2,488 |
| Fresno, CA | $1,347 | $1,355 | $1,664 | $2,314 | $2,660 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX?
The FY2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX HUD Metro FMR Area is $1,573 per month. FMR is the 40th-percentile gross rent (including utilities) HUD uses to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards — it is not the local market median. Verify the current figure at huduser.gov.
What are the FMRs for other bedroom sizes in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX?
In FY2026 the FMRs are $1,280 (studio), $1,323 (1-bedroom), $1,573 (2-bedroom), $2,116 (3-bedroom) and $2,639 (4-bedroom) per month. Larger units have higher FMRs because they assume more bedrooms and occupants.
Is rent in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX high compared with the rest of the US?
Its 2-bedroom FMR of $1,573 is $598 above the national median FMR of $975 (+61%) — far above the national median FMR. Among the 75 largest metros it ranks #51 of 75 by 2-bedroom FMR (1 = most expensive).
Does the FMR mean my voucher will cover that much rent?
Not exactly. The local public housing agency (PHA) sets a "payment standard" usually between 90% and 110% of the FMR, and your subsidy is based on that standard minus roughly 30% of your adjusted income. The FMR is the benchmark, not a guaranteed amount — check with the PHA that serves Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX.
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Source & accuracy
FY2026 Fair Market Rents, U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development — HUD USER (public domain). FMR is the federal voucher rent standard, not the market median. Figures are a June 2026 snapshot of HUD's revised final FY2026 file; verify the current value on huduser.gov before relying on it.
Last updated: 2026-06-20