County FMR · HUD FY2026
Ashland County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Ashland County, WI - 23% below the US average.
- $742
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $973
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +1.2%
- YoY change
- -23%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Ashland is the 2nd cheapest of 72 counties in Wisconsin by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #2
- cheapest of 72 in Wisconsin (2BR)
- -15%
- vs the state average
- $29,680
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +1.2%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (31.2%); 14 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Wisconsin counties range as much as 59% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Ashland County, WI. Verify with HUD →
Ashland County, Wisconsin carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $742 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $973/mo and a studio is $737/mo. That's 23% below the national benchmark of $959 and 15% below the Wisconsin average of $872.
Rent increased1.2% from FY 2025 ($733), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $29,680/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Wisconsin. Population: 16,041. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.2%, Census ACS). That's in line with Wisconsin's statewide growth of +2.0% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Ashland County
The Ashland County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Wisconsin's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 23% below the US average of $959 and 15% lower than the Wisconsin state average of $872. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$733 in FY 2025 to $742 in FY 2026 - a change of +1.2%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $742, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $29,680 per year (about $2,473/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $973 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 16,041 and a county median household income of $57,645, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $660 | $737 | +$77 (+11.7%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $733 | $742 | +$9 (+1.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $933 | $973 | +$40 (+4.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,307 | $1,353 | +$46 (+3.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,567 | $1,613 | +$46 (+2.9%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Ashland County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Ashland County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Ashland sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$973 higher than 31% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Ashland compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Wisconsin counties
- Dane
Dane County
$1,482 1BR FMR / mo
- Milwaukee
Milwaukee County
$1,119 1BR FMR / mo
- Waukesha
Waukesha County
$1,119 1BR FMR / mo
- Racine
Racine County
$988 1BR FMR / mo
- Outagamie
Outagamie County
$960 1BR FMR / mo
- Brown
Brown County
$931 1BR FMR / mo
- Ashland
Ashland County
$742 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Ashland is highlighted. Nearby Wisconsin counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Dane County ($1,482), Milwaukee County ($1,119), Waukesha County ($1,119), Racine County ($988), Outagamie County ($960), Brown County ($931), Ashland County (this county) ($742).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $742/mo compares to Wisconsin salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | WI Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| General & Operations Managers | $113,170 | 7.9% | Affordable |
| Software Developers | $103,360 | 8.6% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $86,070 | 10.3% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $78,980 | 11.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $78,150 | 11.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $75,090 | 11.9% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $60,690 | 14.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,380 | 15.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $56,520 | 15.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $45,980 | 19.4% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $43,620 | 20.4% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,050 | 24.7% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,850 | 24.8% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,640 | 26.5% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,500 | 31.2% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Ashland County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Ashland (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 32.0% overall, from $562 to $742. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.5% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑1.2% | $737 | $742 | $973 |
| FY 2025 ↑2.5% | $660 | $733 | $933 |
| FY 2024 ↑7.4% | $635 | $715 | $905 |
| FY 2023 ↑12.5% | $579 | $666 | $826 |
| FY 2022 ↑5.7% | $529 | $592 | $757 |
| FY 2021 ↓0.4% | $522 | $560 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $545 | $562 | $740 |
Where Ashland County Ranks in Wisconsin
Ashland County is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #2 of 72 counties in Wisconsin. Nearest by rank: Adams County ($973), Ashland County (this county) ($973), Bayfield County ($973), Buffalo County ($973), Clark County ($973), Crawford County ($973), Forest County ($973), Grant County ($973), Green Lake County ($973), Iron County ($973).
Nearby Counties in Wisconsin
Largest counties by population in Wisconsin
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Ashland County? ▼
How does Ashland County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Ashland County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Ashland County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Ashland County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Ashland County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Ashland County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Ashland County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Ashland's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $742 implies about $29,680/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Ashland can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.