County FMR · HUD FY2026
Dodge County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Dodge County, MN - 24% above the US average.
- $1,189
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,407
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +8.0%
- YoY change
- +24%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Dodge is the 13th most expensive of 87 counties in Minnesota by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #566 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 8.0% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #566
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #13
- most expensive of 87 in Minnesota (2BR)
- +32%
- vs the state average
- $47,560
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (44.7%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Dodge County, MN. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Dodge County, Minnesota at $1,189 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,407/mo and a studio is $1,112/mo. This is 24% higher than the national average of $959 and 32% above the Minnesota average of $899.
Rent increased8.0% from FY 2025 ($1,101), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $47,560/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
Observed renter burden: 34.6% of the 989 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 0.9%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.2% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Minnesota. Population: 20,893. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.8%, Census ACS). That's slower than Minnesota's statewide growth of +3.4% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area DODGE·COUNTY·MN·MN
Dodge County, MN: $1,189/mo 1BR · #566 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA MN
- 1BR-FMR $1,189
- 2BR-FMR $1,407
- RANK-MID #566
- YOY-SURGE +8.0%
- VSUS-ABOVE +24%
- VS-ST-HIGH +32% MN
- INC-ROOM 15%
- POP-SMALL 21K
- PHOTO-NEAR Hennepin County
- VOUCH-90-110 $1,070–$1,308
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Hennepin ($216 1BR gap)
Read with: Understanding rent burden
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $989 | $1,112 | +$123 (+12.4%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,101 | $1,189 | +$88 (+8.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,341 | $1,407 | +$66 (+4.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,879 | $1,957 | +$78 (+4.2%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,252 | $2,360 | +$108 (+4.8%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Dodge 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 Dodge sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,407 Top 18% higher than 82% 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 Dodge compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Minnesota counties
- Hennepin
Hennepin County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Ramsey
Ramsey County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Dakota
Dakota County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Anoka
Anoka County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Washington
Washington County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Dodge
Dodge County
$1,189 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Louis
St. Louis County
$978 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Dodge 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), Dodge County (this county) ($1,189), St. Louis County ($978).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,189/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Minnesota BLS wages?
| Occupation | MN Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $124,540 | 11.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $100,870 | 14.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $96,130 | 14.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $83,310 | 17.1% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $81,430 | 17.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $81,100 | 17.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $67,320 | 21.2% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $63,120 | 22.6% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $61,090 | 23.4% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $48,560 | 29.4% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $47,470 | 30.1% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $38,320 | 37.2% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $38,160 | 37.4% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,310 | 40.4% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $31,950 | 44.7% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Dodge County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Dodge (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 53.0% overall, from $777 to $1,189. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 18.8% (FY 2025), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑8.0% | $1,112 | $1,189 | $1,407 |
| FY 2025 ↑18.8% | $989 | $1,101 | $1,341 |
| FY 2024 ↓5.9% | $814 | $927 | $1,148 |
| FY 2023 ↑13.9% | $847 | $985 | $1,224 |
| FY 2022 ↑9.6% | $732 | $865 | $1,094 |
| FY 2021 ↑1.5% | $673 | $789 | $1,014 |
| FY 2020 | $667 | $777 | $1,016 |
Part of the Rochester, MN Metro Area
Dodge County is a outlying county of the Rochester, MN metropolitan statistical area, alongside 3 other metro-area counties.
Dodge County ranks #2 of 4 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Olmsted County ($1,189), Dodge County (this county) ($1,189), Wabasha County ($913), Fillmore County ($779).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Dodge 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).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MN).
Nearby Counties in Minnesota
Largest counties by population in Minnesota
Showing the 8 largest of 86 other counties in Minnesota.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Dodge County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Dodge County is $1,189 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,407 and a studio is $1,112.
How does Dodge County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Dodge County is 24% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,189 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Dodge County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Dodge County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,407 ranks #566 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Dodge County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $47,560 ($3,963/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Dodge County.
Is rent going up or down in Dodge County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Dodge County increased by 8.0% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,101 to $1,189.
Which jobs can afford rent in Dodge 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 $1,189/mo. 10 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Dodge County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Dodge County went from $777 in FY 2020 to $1,189 in FY 2026, a total change of +53.0% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Dodge County?
In Dodge County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,189/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 Dodge County?
For Dodge County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,189/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Dodge County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 0.9%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
What is the unemployment rate in Dodge County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.2% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Dodge'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 $1,189 implies about $47,560/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Minnesota counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Hennepin
- See where Dodge 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.