County FMR · HUD FY2026
Cass County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Cass County, ND - 4% below the US average.
- $917
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,112
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +9.7%
- YoY change
- -4%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Cass is the 9th most expensive of 53 counties in North Dakota by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,258 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 9.7% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #1,258
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #9
- most expensive of 53 in North Dakota (2BR)
- +15%
- vs the state average
- $36,680
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (36.7%); 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 Cass County, ND. Verify with HUD →
Cass County, North Dakota carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $917 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,112/mo and a studio is $768/mo. That's 4% below the national benchmark of $959 and 15% above the North Dakota average of $795.
Rent increased9.7% from FY 2025 ($836), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $36,680/year for a 1-bedroom.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in North Dakota. Population: 186,328. Population grew 8.7% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than North Dakota's statewide growth of +3.6% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Cass County
HUD publishes one FMR schedule per FMR area (often the county). Local housing authorities use it as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard baseline. See how FMR is calculated.
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Cass County's 2-bedroom of $1,112 ranks #1,258 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.
Cass County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (4% below the US average of $959), while sitting 15% above the North Dakota average of $795. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$836 in FY 2025 to $917 in FY 2026, a change of +9.7%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $917, the 30% rule points to $36,680/year (about $3,057/month) versus this county's median household income of $75,023. A 2-bedroom at $1,112 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $694 | $768 | +$74 (+10.7%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $836 | $917 | +$81 (+9.7%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,012 | $1,112 | +$100 (+9.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,418 | $1,547 | +$129 (+9.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,699 | $1,865 | +$166 (+9.8%) |
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 Cass 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 Cass sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,112 Top 40% higher than 60% 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 Cass compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other North Dakota counties
- Williams
Williams County
$1,068 1BR FMR / mo
- Burleigh
Burleigh County
$1,030 1BR FMR / mo
- Morton
Morton County
$1,030 1BR FMR / mo
- Ward
Ward County
$960 1BR FMR / mo
- Cass
Cass County
$917 1BR FMR / mo
- Stark
Stark County
$874 1BR FMR / mo
- Grand Forks
Grand Forks County
$868 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Cass is highlighted. Nearby North Dakota counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Williams County ($1,068), Burleigh County ($1,030), Morton County ($1,030), Ward County ($960), Cass County (this county) ($917), Stark County ($874), Grand Forks County ($868).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $917/mo compares to North Dakota salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | ND Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $98,550 | 11.2% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $93,290 | 11.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $78,260 | 14.1% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $75,530 | 14.6% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $72,180 | 15.2% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $65,820 | 16.7% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $59,910 | 18.4% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,970 | 18.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $57,820 | 19% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $47,600 | 23.1% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,160 | 25.5% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,810 | 29.9% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,660 | 30% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,670 | 30.8% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $30,010 | 36.7% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Cass County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Cass (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 35.7% overall, from $676 to $917. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 9.7% (FY 2026).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑9.7% | $768 | $917 | $1,112 |
| FY 2025 ↑7.0% | $694 | $836 | $1,012 |
| FY 2024 ↑4.3% | $656 | $781 | $944 |
| FY 2023 ↑6.2% | $634 | $749 | $911 |
| FY 2022 ↓1.0% | $597 | $705 | $859 |
| FY 2021 ↑5.3% | $593 | $712 | $873 |
| FY 2020 | $555 | $676 | $834 |
Part of the Fargo, ND-MN Metro Area
Cass County is a central county of the Fargo, ND-MN metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.
Cass County ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Clay County ($917), Cass County (this county) ($917).
Nearby Counties in North Dakota
Largest counties by population in North Dakota
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Cass County? ▼
How does Cass County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Cass County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Cass County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Cass County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Cass County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Cass County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Cass County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Cass County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Cass'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 $917 implies about $36,680/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 Cass 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.