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Ocala, FL

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Ocala, FL is $1,373 per month, ranking #255 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $58,535, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 28.1% of income on housing. Rent in Ocala has increased 8.5% year over year. The area has a population of 388K, with 23.3% of households renting.

28.1%
Moderately Affordable
of income → rent
$1,373
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$58,535
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$1,174
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+8.5%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
388K
Population
Census ACS
23.3%
Renters
of occupied housing
$220,800
Median Home Value
12.9%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
14.6%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$1,126
Studio
$1,172
1 Bedroom
$1,373
2 Bedroom
$1,772
3 Bedroom
$1,905
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 Ocala, FL, a household earning the area median income of $58,535 would spend 28.1% 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
$54,920
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$26
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$1,174
$199 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+46.2% since 2021
$9392021$9952022$1,1312023$1,2662024$1,3232025$1,3732026

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

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Florida is $14.00/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 75.4 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 Ocala is 14.6%, near the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$14.00/hr
Hours/Week Needed
75.4 hrs
Poverty Rate
14.6%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Ocala is $220,800. At a median income of $58,535, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 3.8x. 12.9% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is above the national average and may indicate softer demand or seasonal housing.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,546 est. mortgage
vs $1,373 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
12.9%
of housing units

Other Areas in Florida

Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall
$2,436/mo
2BR FMR · 39.8% burden
Fort Lauderdale
$2,333/mo
2BR FMR · 38.1% burden
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton
$2,254/mo
2BR FMR · 36.8% burden
Naples-Marco Island
$1,986/mo
2BR FMR · 27.7% burden
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
$1,977/mo
2BR FMR · 33.3% burden

Compare Ocala

vs Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FLvs Fort Lauderdale, FLvs West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL

Areas With Similar Rent to Ocala

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Ocala, FL is $1,373 per month. A studio is $1,126/mo, a 1-bedroom is $1,172/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,772/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $1,174/mo.

Ocala has a rent burden of 28.1%, meaning a household earning the median income of $58,535 would spend 28.1% 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 $54,920.

Ocala's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,373/mo is $123 above the national median of $1,250/mo. Ocala ranks #255 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Ocala without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $54,920, or a full-time hourly wage of $26/hour. The area median income is $58,535.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Ocala increased by 8.5% 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.