Fair Market Rents: Polk County, FL (FY2026)
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for Polk 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 | FL median* |
|---|---|---|
| Studio (0-BR) | $1,226/mo | $1,152 (+6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,230/mo | $1,230 (0%) |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,497/mo | $1,471 (+2%) |
| 3 Bedrooms | $2,023/mo | $1,897 (+7%) |
| 4+ Bedrooms | $2,511/mo | $2,253 (+11%) |
*Median across all FMR-publishing counties in FL. Source: HUD FY2026 FMR schedule.
Using FMR as a voucher holder in Polk 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 Polk County
We track 58 assisted properties countywide:
| City | Properties | Assisted units |
|---|---|---|
| Bartow | 6 | 670 |
| Haines City | 4 | 301 |
| Lake Wales | 7 | 677 |
| Lakeland | 28 | 2,530 |
| Winter Haven | 17 | 1,453 |