County FMR · HUD FY2026
Dodge County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Dodge County, WI - 9% below the US average.
- $873
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,080
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +3.6%
- YoY change
- -9%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Dodge is the 31st most expensive of 72 counties in Wisconsin by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,384 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #1,384
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #31
- most expensive of 72 in Wisconsin (2BR)
- +0%
- vs the state average
- $34,920
- income to afford it (30% rule)
General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (36.8%); 13 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Wisconsin counties range as much as 59% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Dodge County, WI. Verify with HUD →
Dodge County, Wisconsin carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $873 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,080/mo and a studio is $745/mo. That's 9% below the national benchmark of $959 and 0% above the Wisconsin average of $872.
Rent increased3.6% from FY 2025 ($843), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $34,920/year for a 1-bedroom.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Wisconsin. Population: 89,032. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.2%, Census ACS). That's in line with Wisconsin's statewide growth of +2.0% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Dodge 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, Dodge County's 2-bedroom of $1,080 ranks #1,384 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.
Dodge County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (9% below the US average of $959), while sitting 0% above the Wisconsin average of $872. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$843 in FY 2025 to $873 in FY 2026, a change of +3.6%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $873, the 30% rule points to $34,920/year (about $2,910/month) versus this county's median household income of $73,992. A 2-bedroom at $1,080 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $718 | $745 | +$27 (+3.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $843 | $873 | +$30 (+3.6%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,047 | $1,080 | +$33 (+3.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,423 | $1,454 | +$31 (+2.2%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,492 | $1,485 | $-7 (-0.5%) |
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 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
$1,080 higher than 56% 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 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
- Dodge
Dodge County
$873 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Dodge 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 ($931), Dodge County (this county) ($873).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $873/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 | 9.3% | Affordable |
| Software Developers | $103,360 | 10.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $86,070 | 12.2% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $78,980 | 13.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $78,150 | 13.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $75,090 | 14% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $60,690 | 17.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,380 | 18.3% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $56,520 | 18.5% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $45,980 | 22.8% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $43,620 | 24% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,050 | 29.1% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,850 | 29.2% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,640 | 31.1% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,500 | 36.8% | 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 36.6% overall, from $639 to $873. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 9.8% (FY 2025).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑3.6% | $745 | $873 | $1,080 |
| FY 2025 ↑9.8% | $718 | $843 | $1,047 |
| FY 2024 ↑5.6% | $658 | $768 | $971 |
| FY 2023 ↑4.9% | $621 | $727 | $929 |
| FY 2022 ↑8.6% | $591 | $693 | $889 |
| FY 2021 ↓0.2% | $538 | $638 | $815 |
| FY 2020 | $537 | $639 | $823 |
Part of the Beaver Dam, WI Micro Area
Dodge County is a central county of the Beaver Dam, WI micropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Wisconsin
Largest counties by population in Wisconsin
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Dodge County? ▼
How does Dodge County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Dodge County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Dodge County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Dodge County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Dodge County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Dodge County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Dodge County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Dodge County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Dodge'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 $873 implies about $34,920/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 Dodge 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.