Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD Fair Market Rent (FY2026)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area · VA, MD, DC · 19 counties · pop. 6,079,924 (2023)
The FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD is $2,246/month. Across bedroom sizes the HUD FMR runs from $1,953 (studio) to $3,332 (4-bedroom). That 2-bedroom figure is $1,271 above the US national median FMR of $975 — far above the national median FMR — and ranks #21 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.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD FMR by bedroom size
| Unit size | Monthly FMR | ≈ Weekly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $1,953 | $451 | $23,436 |
| 1-bedroom | $2,015 | $465 | $24,180 |
| 2-bedroom | $2,246 | $519 | $26,952 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,835 | $655 | $34,020 |
| 4-bedroom | $3,332 | $770 | $39,984 |
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD. 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.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD vs its state and the US
| Benchmark | 2-bedroom FMR |
|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD | $2,246 |
| Virginia state median | $1,022 |
| US national median | $975 |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD sits in Virginia, where the median area's 2-bedroom FMR is $1,022 and areas range from $914 to $2,246.
Metro areas with a similar FMR
The five areas closest to Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD on the 2-bedroom FMR scale:
| Metro area | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD (this area) | $1,953 | $2,015 | $2,246 | $2,835 | $3,332 |
| West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL | $1,788 | $1,901 | $2,254 | $2,920 | $3,388 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | $1,748 | $1,832 | $2,255 | $3,002 | $3,460 |
| Newark, NJ | $1,612 | $1,822 | $2,205 | $2,761 | $3,137 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $1,692 | $1,777 | $2,201 | $2,912 | $3,514 |
| Bergen-Passaic, NJ | $1,778 | $2,024 | $2,324 | $2,835 | $3,618 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD?
The FY2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area is $2,246 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD?
In FY2026 the FMRs are $1,953 (studio), $2,015 (1-bedroom), $2,246 (2-bedroom), $2,835 (3-bedroom) and $3,332 (4-bedroom) per month. Larger units have higher FMRs because they assume more bedrooms and occupants.
Is rent in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD high compared with the rest of the US?
Its 2-bedroom FMR of $2,246 is $1,271 above the national median FMR of $975 (+130%) — far above the national median FMR. Among the 75 largest metros it ranks #21 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD.
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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