FY2026 Fair Market Rents — Bellingham, WA MSA
The HUD-published Fair Market Rents for FY2026 in this area are:
Studio
$1,463
1BR
$1,493
2BR
$1,794
3BR
$2,495
4BR
$3,010
Hours/week at min wage
83 hrs
to afford the 2BR FMR @ $16.66/hr (WA)
YoY change (2BR)
+9.3%
+$152 vs FY2025 · 5-yr +44.1%
Voucher payment standard
$1,615–$1,973
PHAs set HCV payment at 90–110% of the 2BR FMR
Bellingham, WA MSA
Non-Metropolitan area · WA · View full history · Income limits · LIHTC rents
FY2026 Fair Market Rents
| Bedroom Size | Monthly FMR | Annual Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (Studio) | $1,463 | $17,556 |
| 1-Bedroom | $1,493 | $17,916 |
| 2-Bedroom | $1,794 | $21,528 |
| 3-Bedroom | $2,495 | $29,940 |
| 4-Bedroom | $3,010 | $36,120 |
Recent 2-Bedroom FMR Trend
FY2020 $1,175 → FY2026 $1,794
| Fiscal Year | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | $1,463 | $1,493 | $1,794 | $2,495 | $3,010 |
| FY2025 | $1,348 | $1,381 | $1,642 | $2,301 | $2,757 |
| FY2024 | $1,254 | $1,306 | $1,571 | $2,214 | $2,666 |
| FY2023 | $1,039 | $1,101 | $1,355 | $1,926 | $2,308 |
| FY2022 | $926 | $996 | $1,254 | $1,781 | $2,146 |
| FY2021 | $907 | $972 | $1,245 | $1,782 | $2,156 |
| FY2020 | $846 | $905 | $1,175 | $1,695 | $2,063 |
View full FMR history back to FY2000 →
FY2026 Income Limits
Area Median Income (AMI): $123,300
| AMI Level | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% AMI (Extremely Low) | $25,050 | $28,600 | $32,200 | $35,750 | $38,680 | $44,360 |
| 50% AMI (Very Low) | $41,700 | $47,700 | $53,650 | $59,600 | $64,400 | $69,150 |
| 80% AMI (Low) | $66,750 | $76,300 | $85,850 | $95,350 | $103,000 | $110,650 |
Full income limits table (all 8 household sizes) →
Affordability Snapshot
2BR Annual FMR
$21,528/yr
FMR as % of Area Median Income
17.5% of AMI
Under 30% — affordable at median income
Income Needed (30% rule, 2BR)
$71,760/yr
$5,980/mo gross income
FY2026 LIHTC Maximum Rents
Maximum gross rents for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit units, by income band. Full LIHTC details →
| AMI Band | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50% AMI Maximum | $1,078 | $1,233 | $1,387 | $1,664 | $1,787 |
| 60% AMI Maximum | $1,294 | $1,479 | $1,664 | $1,997 | $2,145 |
FY2026 HOME Program Rent Limits
Maximum rents for HOME Investment Partnerships–funded units. High HOME rents apply to most assisted units; Low HOME rents apply to the lowest-income set-aside units. Full HOME rent details →
| Limit Type | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High HOME Rent | $1,463 | $1,493 | $1,794 | $2,003 | $2,003 |
| Low HOME Rent | $1,042 | $1,192 | $1,341 | $1,490 | $1,610 |
Compare Bellingham, WA MSA With Other WA Metros
vs. Bellingham, WA MSA
vs. Bremerton-Silverdale, WA MSA
vs. Columbia County, WA HUD Metro FMR Area
vs. Kennewick-Richland, WA MSA
vs. Longview, WA MSA