FMR Lookup › Georgia › Athens-Clarke County
Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Athens-Clarke County, GA (FY2026)
HUD's official FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Athens-Clarke County, GA MSA, by bedroom count. These figures set the baseline for what the Housing Choice Voucher program pays landlords in this area.
| Unit size | FY2026 FMR | Payment standard range (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $1,159 | $1,043 – $1,275 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,183 | $1,065 – $1,301 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,331 | $1,198 – $1,464 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,734 | $1,561 – $1,907 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,831 | $1,648 – $2,014 |
Source: HUD User — FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. FY2026 FMRs are effective October 1, 2025. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
How this market compares
The 2-bedroom FMR here is $1,331 — 37% above the Georgia median of $973 across all 112 FMR areas in the state.
Counties and towns covered
The Athens-Clarke County, GA FMR area is a metro area covering: Clarke County, Madison County, Oconee County, Oglethorpe County. One FMR applies across the whole area — HUD does not publish separate figures per city or ZIP here (some large metros have Small Area FMRs by ZIP; check with the local housing authority).
What a landlord actually collects
FMR is the baseline, not the contract rent. The local housing authority sets a payment standard between 90% and 110% of FMR (the range in the table above), and your unit must pass a rent-reasonableness comparison against similar unassisted rentals nearby. The voucher then covers the gap between the tenant's share (roughly 30% of their income) and the approved rent.
Run the numbers for a deal in Athens-Clarke County: Section 8 vs market rent, DSCR, or cash-on-cash return.
Comparable Georgia markets by 2BR FMR
| FMR area | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macon-Bibb County | $1,158 | $1,307 | $1,567 |
| Warner Robins | $1,221 | $1,362 | $1,821 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons | $1,105 | $1,293 | $1,550 |
| Chattanooga | $1,263 | $1,390 | $1,734 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $1,114 | $1,261 | $1,627 |
| Hinesville | $1,283 | $1,406 | $1,868 |
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Athens-Clarke County.