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Union County, OH

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Union County, OH is $1,433 per month, ranking #225 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $109,506, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 15.7% of income on housing. Rent in Union County has increased 14.6% year over year. The area has a population of 65K, with 20.6% of households renting.

15.7%
Affordable
of income → rent
$1,433
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$109,506
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$1,188
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+14.6%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
65K
Population
Census ACS
20.6%
Renters
of occupied housing
$306,600
Median Home Value
3.1%
Unemployment
BLS LAUS
3.3%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
5.1%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$1,113
Studio
$1,125
1 Bedroom
$1,433
2 Bedroom
$1,718
3 Bedroom
$1,897
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 Union County, OH, a household earning the area median income of $109,506 would spend 15.7% 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
$57,320
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$28
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$1,188
$245 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+32.6% since 2021
$1,0812021$1,0692022$1,1852023$1,2502024$1,4252025$1,4332026

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

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Ohio is $10.65/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 103.5 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 Union County is 5.1%, below the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$10.65/hr
Hours/Week Needed
103.5 hrs
Poverty Rate
5.1%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Union County is $306,600. At a median income of $109,506, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 2.8x. 3.3% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is below the national average and suggests a tight housing market. The local unemployment rate is 3.1%, below the national average, indicating a relatively strong local labor market.

Rent vs. Buy
$2,146 est. mortgage
vs $1,433 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
3.3%
of housing units
Unemployment
3.1%
BLS, latest available

Other Areas in Ohio

Columbus
$1,430/mo
2BR FMR · 21.5% burden
Cincinnati
$1,353/mo
2BR FMR · 20.4% burden
Cleveland
$1,279/mo
2BR FMR · 22.4% burden
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek
$1,273/mo
2BR FMR · 21.9% burden
Akron
$1,268/mo
2BR FMR · 21.3% burden

Compare Union County

vs Columbus, OHvs Cincinnati, OHvs Cleveland, OH

Areas With Similar Rent to Union County

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Union County, OH is $1,433 per month. A studio is $1,113/mo, a 1-bedroom is $1,125/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,718/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $1,188/mo.

Union County has a rent burden of 15.7%, meaning a household earning the median income of $109,506 would spend 15.7% 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 $57,320.

Union County's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,433/mo is $183 above the national median of $1,250/mo. Union County ranks #225 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Union County without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $57,320, or a full-time hourly wage of $28/hour. The area median income is $109,506.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Union County increased by 14.6% 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.