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Monroe County, GA

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Monroe County, GA is $1,174 per month, ranking #413 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $82,863, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 17% of income on housing. Rent in Monroe County has increased 16.4% year over year. The area has a population of 29K, with 17% of households renting.

17%
Affordable
of income → rent
$1,174
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$82,863
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$881
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+16.4%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
29K
Population
Census ACS
17%
Renters
of occupied housing
$243,200
Median Home Value
2.9%
Unemployment
BLS LAUS
8.2%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
11.4%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$984
Studio
$1,048
1 Bedroom
$1,174
2 Bedroom
$1,408
3 Bedroom
$1,662
4 Bedroom

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality units in an area. FMRs are used to determine payment standards for the Housing Choice Voucher program and other federal housing assistance.

Housing Affordability

In Monroe County, GA, a household earning the area median income of $82,863 would spend 17% of their gross income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This falls below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, meaning housing is relatively affordable for median-income households in this area.

Income Needed for 2BR
$46,960
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$23
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$881
$293 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+65.4% since 2021
$7102021$7642022$8592023$1,0092024$1,0992025$1,1742026

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent by fiscal year. Source: HUD FMR API.

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Georgia is $7.25/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 124.6 hours per week to afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding 30% of income on housing. This means a single minimum-wage earner cannot afford a 2-bedroom working a standard 40-hour week. The poverty rate in Monroe County is 11.4%, below the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$7.25/hr
Hours/Week Needed
124.6 hrs
Poverty Rate
11.4%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Monroe County is $243,200. At a median income of $82,863, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 2.9x. 8.2% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is near the national average. The local unemployment rate is 2.9%, below the national average, indicating a relatively strong local labor market.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,702 est. mortgage
vs $1,174 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
8.2%
of housing units
Unemployment
2.9%
BLS, latest available

Other Areas in Georgia

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
$1,820/mo
2BR FMR · 25.3% burden
Savannah
$1,680/mo
2BR FMR · 27% burden
Gainesville
$1,514/mo
2BR FMR · 23.5% burden
Morgan County
$1,442/mo
2BR FMR · 20.2% burden
Hinesville
$1,406/mo
2BR FMR · 28% burden

Compare Monroe County

vs Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GAvs Savannah, GAvs Gainesville, GA

Areas With Similar Rent to Monroe County

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Monroe County, GA is $1,174 per month. A studio is $984/mo, a 1-bedroom is $1,048/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,408/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $881/mo.

Monroe County has a rent burden of 17%, meaning a household earning the median income of $82,863 would spend 17% of income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This is below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, indicating relatively affordable housing. To afford a 2-bedroom without being cost-burdened, a household would need an annual income of at least $46,960.

Monroe County's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,174/mo is $76 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Monroe County ranks #413 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Monroe County without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $46,960, or a full-time hourly wage of $23/hour. The area median income is $82,863.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Monroe County increased by 16.4% compared to the prior year. This is a significant increase, suggesting growing demand in the local housing market.

Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality rental units. Rent burden is calculated as annual 2BR FMR divided by area median household income. Census data (income, home value, population, vacancy) is from the ACS 5-Year estimates. Unemployment rates are from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.