County FMR · HUD FY2026

Emmet County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Emmet County, MI - 2% below the US average.

$941
1-bedroom FMR
$1,235
2-bedroom FMR
+6.9%
YoY change
-2%
vs US avg

The verdict

Emmet is the 19th most expensive of 83 counties in Michigan by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 6.9% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#19
most expensive of 83 in Michigan (2BR)
+6%
vs the state average
$37,640
income to afford it (30% rule)
+6.9%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (39.1%); 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 Emmet County, MI. Verify with HUD →

Emmet County, Michigan carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $941 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,235/mo and a studio is $863/mo. That's 2% below the national benchmark of $959 and 6% above the Michigan average of $891.

Rent increased6.9% from FY 2025 ($880), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $37,640/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Michigan. Population: 34,072. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.4%, Census ACS). That's faster than Michigan's statewide growth of +0.9% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Emmet County

The Emmet County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Michigan'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 2% below the US average of $959 and 6% higher than the Michigan state average of $891. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$880 in FY 2025 to $941 in FY 2026 - a change of +6.9%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $941, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $37,640 per year (about $3,137/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,235 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 34,072 and a county median household income of $73,724, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $807 · US avg: $893
$863/mo
↑ 6.8% YoY +7% vs state -3% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $891 · US avg: $959
$941/mo
↑ 6.9% YoY +6% vs state -2% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,113 · US avg: $1,175
$1,235/mo
↑ 7.0% YoY +11% vs state +5% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,419 · US avg: $1,525
$1,481/mo
↑ 6.5% YoY +4% vs state -3% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,588 · US avg: $1,756
$1,635/mo
↑ 6.5% YoY +3% vs state -7% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $808
$863
+$55 (+6.8%)
1 Bedroom $880
$941
+$61 (+6.9%)
2 Bedroom $1,154
$1,235
+$81 (+7.0%)
3 Bedroom $1,390
$1,481
+$91 (+6.5%)
4 Bedroom $1,535
$1,635
+$100 (+6.5%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$37,640
$3,137/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$49,400
$4,117/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Emmet County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
14%
Affordable
Need $34,520/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
15.3%
Affordable
Need $37,640/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.1%
Affordable
Need $49,400/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
24.1%
Affordable
Need $59,240/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
26.6%
Affordable
Need $65,400/yr for 30% rule
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.

Emmet County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%20.1%
Emmet County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $73,724 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Michigan rent burden →

Where Emmet sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,235 Top 29% higher than 71% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). This entry sits in this band. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

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 Emmet compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Michigan counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Emmet 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), Emmet County (this county) ($941), Genesee County ($856).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $941/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 10.5% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $99,660 11.3% Affordable
Registered Nurses $85,670 13.2% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,720 14.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $74,420 15.2% Affordable
Electricians $72,680 15.5% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $62,350 18.1% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $61,490 18.4% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,140 20.5% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $42,560 26.5% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $40,040 28.2% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $35,000 32.3% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $33,340 33.9% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $30,960 36.5% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,870 39.1% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Michigan) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Emmet County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Emmet (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 55.5% overall, from $605 to $941. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +20.8% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$500$600$700$800$900$1,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $941
Emmet County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑6.9% $863 $941 $1,235
FY 2025 ↓2.2% $808 $880 $1,154
FY 2024 ↑20.8% $826 $900 $1,182
FY 2023 ↑8.8% $652 $745 $975
FY 2022 ↑3.0% $595 $685 $896
FY 2021 ↑9.9% $578 $665 $876
FY 2020 $520 $605 $797
Total change (6yr): +55.5%
Annualized: +7.6%/yr
1 BR: $605 → $941

Part of the Petoskey, MI Micro Area

Emmet County is a central county of the Petoskey, MI micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in Michigan

Largest counties by population in Michigan

Wayne County
1 BR: $1,122/mo Pop: 1,781,641
Oakland County
1 BR: $1,122/mo Pop: 1,272,264
Macomb County
1 BR: $1,122/mo Pop: 878,453
Kent County
1 BR: $1,278/mo Pop: 657,321
Genesee County
1 BR: $856/mo Pop: 405,280
Washtenaw County
1 BR: $1,387/mo Pop: 370,231
Ottawa County
1 BR: $1,333/mo Pop: 296,183
Ingham County
1 BR: $1,012/mo Pop: 282,540
View all counties in Michigan →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Emmet County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Emmet County is $941 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,235 and a studio is $863.
How does Emmet County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Emmet County is 2% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $941 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Emmet County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $37,640 ($3,137/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Emmet County.
Is rent going up or down in Emmet County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Emmet County increased by 6.9% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $880 to $941.
Which jobs can afford rent in Emmet 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 $941/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Emmet County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Emmet County went from $605 in FY 2020 to $941 in FY 2026, a total change of +55.5% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Emmet County? ▼
In Emmet County, the FY 2026 FMR of $941/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 Emmet County? ▼
For Emmet County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($941/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Emmet'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 $941 implies about $37,640/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 Emmet 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.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

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.