County FMR · HUD FY2026
Calhoun County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Calhoun County, MI - 2% above the US average.
- $976
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,176
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +8.6%
- YoY change
- +2%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Calhoun is the 25th most expensive of 83 counties in Michigan by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,069 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 8.6% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #1,069
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #25
- most expensive of 83 in Michigan (2BR)
- +10%
- vs the state average
- $39,040
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (40.6%); nearby Michigan counties range as much as 62% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Calhoun County, MI. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Calhoun County, Michigan is $976 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,176/mo and a studio is $833/mo. This is 2% higher than the national average of $959 and 10% above the Michigan average of $891.
Rent increased8.6% from FY 2025 ($899), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $39,040/year for a 1-bedroom.
Observed renter burden: 45.0% of the 14,740 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.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 9.3%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 5.4% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Michigan. Population: 134,011. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.5%, Census ACS). That's in line with Michigan's statewide growth of +0.9% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area CALHOUN·COUNTY·MI·MI
Calhoun County, MI: $976/mo 1BR · #1069 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA MI
- 1BR-FMR $976
- 2BR-FMR $1,176
- RANK-MID #1,069
- YOY-SURGE +8.6%
- VSUS-NEAR +2%
- VS-ST-HIGH +10% MI
- INC-ROOM 19%
- POP-MID 134K
- PHOTO-NEAR Wayne County
- VOUCH-90-110 $878–$1,074
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Wayne ($146 1BR gap)
Read with: How Fair Market Rent works
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $777 | $833 | +$56 (+7.2%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $899 | $976 | +$77 (+8.6%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,090 | $1,176 | +$86 (+7.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,313 | $1,410 | +$97 (+7.4%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,491 | $1,565 | +$74 (+5.0%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Calhoun 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.
Where Calhoun sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,176 Top 34% higher than 66% 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 Calhoun compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Michigan counties
- Washtenaw
Washtenaw County
$1,387 1BR FMR / mo
- Kent
Kent County
$1,278 1BR FMR / mo
- Wayne
Wayne County
$1,122 1BR FMR / mo
- Oakland
Oakland County
$1,122 1BR FMR / mo
- Macomb
Macomb County
$1,122 1BR FMR / mo
- Calhoun
Calhoun County
$976 1BR FMR / mo
- Genesee
Genesee County
$856 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Calhoun is highlighted. Nearby Michigan counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Washtenaw County ($1,387), Kent County ($1,278), Wayne County ($1,122), Oakland County ($1,122), Macomb County ($1,122), Calhoun County (this county) ($976), Genesee County ($856).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $976/mo compares to Michigan salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | MI Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $107,820 | 10.9% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $99,660 | 11.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $85,670 | 13.7% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,720 | 15.1% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $74,420 | 15.7% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $72,680 | 16.1% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,350 | 18.8% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,490 | 19% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,140 | 21.2% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $42,560 | 27.5% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $40,040 | 29.3% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,000 | 33.5% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,340 | 35.1% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,960 | 37.8% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,870 | 40.6% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Calhoun County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Calhoun (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 54.4% overall, from $632 to $976. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.3% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑8.6% | $833 | $976 | $1,176 |
| FY 2025 ↑5.3% | $777 | $899 | $1,090 |
| FY 2024 ↑9.6% | $745 | $854 | $1,038 |
| FY 2023 ↑16.3% | $697 | $779 | $958 |
| FY 2022 ↑1.4% | $602 | $670 | $841 |
| FY 2021 ↑4.6% | $552 | $661 | $837 |
| FY 2020 | $517 | $632 | $794 |
Part of the Battle Creek, MI Metro Area
Calhoun County is a central county of the Battle Creek, MI metropolitan statistical area.
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Calhoun County, both outside Michigan 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 MI (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MI).
Nearby Counties in Michigan
Largest counties by population in Michigan
Showing the 8 largest of 82 other counties in Michigan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Calhoun County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Calhoun County is $976 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,176 and a studio is $833.
How does Calhoun County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Calhoun County is 2% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $976 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Calhoun County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Calhoun County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,176 ranks #1,069 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 Calhoun County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $39,040 ($3,253/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Calhoun County.
Is rent going up or down in Calhoun County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Calhoun County increased by 8.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $899 to $976.
Which jobs can afford rent in Calhoun County?
Based on Michigan BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $976/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Calhoun County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Calhoun County went from $632 in FY 2020 to $976 in FY 2026, a total change of +54.4% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Calhoun County?
In Calhoun County, the FY 2026 FMR of $976/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 Calhoun County?
For Calhoun County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($976/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Calhoun County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 9.3%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in Calhoun County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 5.4% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Calhoun's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $976 implies about $39,040/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Michigan counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Wayne
- See where Calhoun ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.