County FMR · HUD FY2026

Benton County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Benton County, MN - 4% below the US average.

$919
1-bedroom FMR
$1,206
2-bedroom FMR
+4.1%
YoY change
-4%
vs US avg

The verdict

Benton is the 18th most expensive of 87 counties in Minnesota by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #975 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#975
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#18
most expensive of 87 in Minnesota (2BR)
+2%
vs the state average
$36,760
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (34.5%); 13 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Benton County, MN. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Benton County, Minnesota is $919 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,206/mo and a studio is $874/mo. This is 4% lower than the national average of $959 and 2% above the Minnesota average of $899.

Rent increased4.1% from FY 2025 ($883), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $36,760/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 33.4% of the 5,302 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Minnesota. Population: 41,300. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+4.2%, Census ACS). That's in line with Minnesota's statewide growth of +3.4% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area BENTON·COUNTY·MN·MN

Benton County, MN: $919/mo 1BR · #975 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA MN
  • 1BR-FMR $919
  • 2BR-FMR $1,206
  • RANK-MID #975
  • YOY-UP +4.1%
  • VSUS-NEAR -4%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +2% MN
  • INC-ROOM 15%
  • POP-SMALL 41K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Hennepin County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $827–$1,011
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Hennepin ($486 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $809 · US avg: $893
$874/mo
↑ 2.1% YoY +8% vs state -2% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $899 · US avg: $959
$919/mo
↑ 4.1% YoY +2% vs state -4% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,125 · US avg: $1,175
$1,206/mo
↑ 4.8% YoY +7% vs state +3% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,483 · US avg: $1,525
$1,604/mo
↑ 6.2% YoY +8% vs state +5% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,698 · US avg: $1,756
$1,873/mo
↑ 4.2% YoY +10% vs state +7% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $856
$874
+$18 (+2.1%)
1 Bedroom $883
$919
+$36 (+4.1%)
2 Bedroom $1,151
$1,206
+$55 (+4.8%)
3 Bedroom $1,510
$1,604
+$94 (+6.2%)
4 Bedroom $1,798
$1,873
+$75 (+4.2%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Benton County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
14.7%
Affordable
Need $34,960/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
15.4%
Affordable
Need $36,760/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.2%
Affordable
Need $48,240/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
26.9%
Affordable
Need $64,160/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
31.4%
Burdened
Need $74,920/yr for 30% rule
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.

0%100%National avg22%20.2%
Benton County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $71,480 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Minnesota rent burden →

Where Benton sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,206 Top 31% higher than 69% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). This entry sits in this band. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

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 Benton compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Minnesota counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Benton is highlighted. Nearby Minnesota counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Hennepin County ($1,405), Ramsey County ($1,405), Dakota County ($1,405), Anoka County ($1,405), Washington County ($1,405), St. Louis County ($978), Benton County (this county) ($919).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $919/mo compares to Minnesota salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation MN Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $124,540 8.9% Affordable
Registered Nurses $100,870 10.9% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $96,130 11.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $83,310 13.2% Affordable
Electricians $81,430 13.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $81,100 13.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $67,320 16.4% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $63,120 17.5% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $61,090 18.1% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $48,560 22.7% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $47,470 23.2% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $38,320 28.8% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $38,160 28.9% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $35,310 31.2% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $31,950 34.5% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Minnesota) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Benton County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Benton (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 39.9% overall, from $657 to $919. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.0% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$700$800$900$1,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $919
Benton County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑4.1% $874 $919 $1,206
FY 2025 ↓2.5% $856 $883 $1,151
FY 2024 ↑16.0% $877 $906 $1,155
FY 2023 ↑8.2% $754 $781 $972
FY 2022 ↑7.6% $688 $722 $886
FY 2021 ↑2.1% $634 $671 $821
FY 2020 $605 $657 $804
Total change (6yr): +39.9%
Annualized: +5.8%/yr
1 BR: $657 → $919

Part of the St. Cloud, MN Metro Area

Benton County is a central county of the St. Cloud, MN metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.

Benton County ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Stearns County ($919), Benton County (this county) ($919).

Stearns County
1 BR: $919/mo
Benton County (this county)
1 BR: $919/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Benton County, both outside Minnesota so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside MN (FY2026).

Madison County
IN · 2 BR $1,206/mo
Walworth County
WI · 2 BR $1,206/mo
Wise County
TX · 2 BR $1,205/mo
East Baton Rouge Parish
LA · 2 BR $1,204/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MN).

Washington County
RI · 20.2% of income · 2 BR $1,729/mo
Fayette County
IN · 20.2% of income · 2 BR $956/mo
Allen County
KY · 20.2% of income · 2 BR $996/mo
Love County
OK · 20.2% of income · 2 BR $1,062/mo

Nearby Counties in Minnesota

Largest counties by population in Minnesota

Showing the 8 largest of 86 other counties in Minnesota.

Hennepin County
1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 1,270,787
Ramsey County
1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 547,202
Dakota County
1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 439,179
Anoka County
1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 363,985
Washington County
1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 268,651
St. Louis County
1 BR: $978/mo Pop: 200,122
Olmsted County
1 BR: $1,189/mo Pop: 162,307
Stearns County
1 BR: $919/mo Pop: 158,622
View all counties in Minnesota →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Benton County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Benton County is $919 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,206 and a studio is $874.
How does Benton County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Benton County is 4% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $919 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Benton County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Benton County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,206 ranks #975 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Benton County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $36,760 ($3,063/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Benton County.
Is rent going up or down in Benton County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Benton County increased by 4.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $883 to $919.
Which jobs can afford rent in Benton County? ▼
Based on Minnesota BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $919/mo. 13 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Benton County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Benton County went from $657 in FY 2020 to $919 in FY 2026, a total change of +39.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Benton County? ▼
In Benton County, the FY 2026 FMR of $919/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Benton County? ▼
For Benton County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($919/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

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.