County FMR · HUD FY2026
Brown County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Brown County, WI - 3% below the US average.
- $931
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,164
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +1.4%
- YoY change
- -3%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Brown is the 22nd most expensive of 72 counties in Wisconsin by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #22
- most expensive of 72 in Wisconsin (2BR)
- +7%
- vs the state average
- $37,240
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +1.4%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (39.2%); nearby Wisconsin counties range as much as 67% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Brown County, WI. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Brown County, Wisconsin is $931 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,164/mo and a studio is $867/mo. This is 3% lower than the national average of $959 and 7% above the Wisconsin average of $872.
Rent increased1.4% from FY 2025 ($918), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $37,240/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Wisconsin. Population: 268,393. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.7%, Census ACS). That's faster than Wisconsin's statewide growth of +2.0% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Brown County
The Brown 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 3% below the US average of $959 and 7% higher than the Wisconsin state average of $872. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$918 in FY 2025 to $931 in FY 2026 - a change of +1.4%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $931, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $37,240 per year (about $3,103/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,164 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 268,393 and a county median household income of $77,490, 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 | $841 | $867 | +$26 (+3.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $918 | $931 | +$13 (+1.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,147 | $1,164 | +$17 (+1.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,521 | $1,545 | +$24 (+1.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,554 | $1,618 | +$64 (+4.1%) |
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 Brown 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.
Brown County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Brown sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,164 Top 35% higher than 65% 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 Brown 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
- Winnebago
Winnebago County
$889 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Brown 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 (this county) ($931), Winnebago County ($889).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $931/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 | 9.9% | Affordable |
| Software Developers | $103,360 | 10.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $86,070 | 13% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $78,980 | 14.1% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $78,150 | 14.3% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $75,090 | 14.9% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $60,690 | 18.4% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,380 | 19.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $56,520 | 19.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $45,980 | 24.3% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $43,620 | 25.6% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,050 | 31% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,850 | 31.2% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,640 | 33.2% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,500 | 39.2% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Brown County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Brown (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 49.2% overall, from $624 to $931. 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 ↑1.4% | $867 | $931 | $1,164 |
| FY 2025 ↑9.2% | $841 | $918 | $1,147 |
| FY 2024 ↑10.1% | $774 | $841 | $1,055 |
| FY 2023 ↑12.5% | $708 | $764 | $965 |
| FY 2022 ↓0.1% | $636 | $679 | $875 |
| FY 2021 ↑9.0% | $630 | $680 | $892 |
| FY 2020 | $572 | $624 | $822 |
Part of the Green Bay, WI Metro Area
Brown County is a central county of the Green Bay, WI metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Brown County ranks #2 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Kewaunee County ($931), Brown County (this county) ($931), Oconto County ($793).
Nearby Counties in Wisconsin
Largest counties by population in Wisconsin
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Brown County? ▼
How does Brown County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Brown County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Brown County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Brown County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Brown County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Brown County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Brown County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Brown'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 $931 implies about $37,240/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 Brown 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.