Fair Market Rents: Cowlitz County, WA (FY2026)
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for Cowlitz County set the ceiling for what Housing Choice Vouchers pay locally. FMR equals the estimated 40th-percentile gross rent — shelter plus utilities — for modest, non-luxury units.
| Unit size | FY2026 FMR | WA median* |
|---|---|---|
| Studio (0-BR) | $1,000/mo | $1,034 (-3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,199/mo | $1,143 (+5%) |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,451/mo | $1,451 (0%) |
| 3 Bedrooms | $2,018/mo | $2,018 (0%) |
| 4+ Bedrooms | $2,434/mo | $2,333 (+4%) |
*Median across all FMR-publishing counties in WA. Source: HUD FY2026 FMR schedule.
Using FMR as a voucher holder in Cowlitz County
- Your housing authority sets payment standards per bedroom, typically 90–110% of these figures. How payment standards work →
- You may rent above the standard by paying the difference, subject to a 40%-of-income cap at lease-up.
- In high-cost pockets, ask about exception standards or Small Area FMRs by ZIP code.
Subsidized housing in Cowlitz County
We track 14 assisted properties countywide:
| City | Properties | Assisted units |
|---|---|---|
| Kelso | 4 | 309 |
| Longview | 9 | 490 |
| Woodland | 4 | 166 |