Virginia · FIPS 51057 · HUD FY 2027
Essex County, Virginia Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Essex County is $1,155 a month (rent plus utilities), 36% below the Virginia average of $1,792 and 34% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $42 (3.8%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $46,200 a year to afford it.
- $1,1552-bedroom FMR+$42 (+3.8%) vs FY 2026
- $9421-bedroom FMRVirginia: $1,596 · U.S.: $1,478
- $46,200Income for a 2-bedroom$22/hour full-time
- 77 of 1332BR rank in Virginia1 = highest rent
| Unit | Essex County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Virginia avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $936 | $907 | +$29 (+3.2%) | $1,536 | $1,379 | $37,440 |
| 1 bedroom | $942 | $912 | +$30 (+3.3%) | $1,596 | $1,478 | $37,680 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,155 | $1,113 | +$42 (+3.8%) | $1,792 | $1,761 | $46,200 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,396 | $1,341 | +$55 (+4.1%) | $2,326 | $2,266 | $55,840 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,653 | $1,556 | +$97 (+6.2%) | $2,752 | $2,607 | $66,120 |
How Essex County compares
- Essex County is a non-metro county, so HUD sets one Fair Market Rent for the whole county.
- Across Virginia, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $943 (Wythe County) to $2,438 (Alexandria city).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $936, $942, $1,155, $1,396, $1,653. HUD derives the other sizes from the 2-bedroom figure with fixed ratios, adjusted where local data warrant.
- HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area FMRs. For the 7 ZIP codes mostly in Essex County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,150 to $1,300.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Essex County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22436 | $940 | $1,030 | $1,240 | $1,610 | $1,930 | +$40 (+3.3%) | 7% above |
| 22438 | $990 | $1,030 | $1,300 | $1,720 | $2,030 | +$40 (+3.2%) | 13% above |
| 22454 | $930 | $940 | $1,150 | $1,390 | $1,650 | +$60 (+5.5%) | about the same as |
| 22476 | $940 | $950 | $1,160 | $1,400 | $1,660 | +$50 (+4.5%) | about the same as |
| 22504 | $950 | $960 | $1,200 | $1,530 | $1,820 | +$20 (+1.7%) | 4% above |
| 22509 | $940 | $950 | $1,160 | $1,400 | $1,660 | +$50 (+4.5%) | about the same as |
| 22560 | $990 | $1,030 | $1,180 | $1,560 | $1,890 | −$20 (−1.7%) | 2% above |
Sources
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD User Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 FMRs (file dated August 26, 2026) and FY 2026 FMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- HUD User Small Area Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 SAFMRs (file dated August 31, 2026) and FY 2026 SAFMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- ZIP-to-county assignment: Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA-to-county relationship file (file dated December 9, 2021), largest land-area overlap.
Fair Market Rents are HUD’s estimate of gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a modest unit, set at the 40th percentile of recent-mover rents. FY 2027 is HUD’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. Housing authorities set voucher payment standards from these figures; check yours.