Washington · FIPS 53015 · HUD FY 2027
Cowlitz County, Washington Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Cowlitz County is $1,398 a month (rent plus utilities), 32% below the Washington average of $2,044 and 21% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is down $53 (3.7%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $55,920 a year to afford it.
- $1,3982-bedroom FMR−$53 (−3.7%) vs FY 2026
- $1,1241-bedroom FMRWashington: $1,701 · U.S.: $1,478
- $55,920Income for a 2-bedroom$27/hour full-time
- 24 of 392BR rank in Washington1 = highest rent
| Unit | Cowlitz County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Washington avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $974 | $1,000 | −$26 (−2.6%) | $1,600 | $1,379 | $38,960 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,124 | $1,199 | −$75 (−6.3%) | $1,701 | $1,478 | $44,960 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,398 | $1,451 | −$53 (−3.7%) | $2,044 | $1,761 | $55,920 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,936 | $2,018 | −$82 (−4.1%) | $2,728 | $2,266 | $77,440 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,337 | $2,434 | −$97 (−4.0%) | $3,214 | $2,607 | $93,480 |
How Cowlitz County compares
- HUD sets this rent for the Longview-Kelso, WA metro FMR area, which covers 112,360 residents in 1 county.
- Across Washington, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,058 (Ferry County) to $2,549 (King County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $974, $1,124, $1,398, $1,936, $2,337. HUD derives the other sizes from the 2-bedroom figure with fixed ratios, adjusted where local data warrant.
- HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area FMRs. For the 10 ZIP codes mostly in Cowlitz County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,310 to $1,760.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Cowlitz County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98581 | $1,060 | $1,200 | $1,520 | $2,060 | $2,440 | −$10 (−0.7%) | 9% above |
| 98603 | $1,140 | $1,260 | $1,500 | $2,060 | $2,490 | −$50 (−3.2%) | 7% above |
| 98609 | $970 | $1,130 | $1,400 | $1,940 | $2,340 | −$50 (−3.4%) | about the same as |
| 98611 | $1,040 | $1,250 | $1,510 | $2,090 | $2,520 | −$160 (−9.6%) | 8% above |
| 98625 | $1,080 | $1,230 | $1,510 | $2,080 | $2,510 | −$30 (−1.9%) | 8% above |
| 98626 | $970 | $1,130 | $1,400 | $1,940 | $2,340 | −$40 (−2.8%) | about the same as |
| 98632 | $1,010 | $1,170 | $1,450 | $2,010 | $2,420 | no change | 4% above |
| 98645 | $1,040 | $1,250 | $1,510 | $2,090 | $2,520 | −$160 (−9.6%) | 8% above |
| 98649 | $900 | $1,080 | $1,310 | $1,820 | $2,200 | +$30 (+2.3%) | 6% below |
| 98674 | $1,420 | $1,510 | $1,760 | $2,430 | $2,930 | −$40 (−2.2%) | 26% above |
Sources
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD User Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 FMRs (file dated August 26, 2026) and FY 2026 FMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- HUD User Small Area Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 SAFMRs (file dated August 31, 2026) and FY 2026 SAFMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- ZIP-to-county assignment: Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA-to-county relationship file (file dated December 9, 2021), largest land-area overlap.
Fair Market Rents are HUD’s estimate of gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a modest unit, set at the 40th percentile of recent-mover rents. FY 2027 is HUD’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. Housing authorities set voucher payment standards from these figures; check yours.