Fair Market Rents: Essex County, VA (FY2026)
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for Essex 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 | VA median* |
|---|---|---|
| Studio (0-BR) | $907/mo | $1,005 (-10%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $912/mo | $1,053 (-13%) |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,113/mo | $1,254 (-11%) |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,341/mo | $1,716 (-22%) |
| 4+ Bedrooms | $1,556/mo | $1,950 (-20%) |
*Median across all FMR-publishing counties in VA. Source: HUD FY2026 FMR schedule.
Using FMR as a voucher holder in Essex 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 Essex County
We track 3 assisted properties countywide:
| City | Properties | Assisted units |
|---|---|---|
| Tappahannock | 3 | 130 |