County FMR · HUD FY2026
Hillsdale County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Hillsdale County, MI - 20% below the US average.
- $764
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,002
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +7.5%
- YoY change
- -20%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Hillsdale is the 34th cheapest of 83 counties in Michigan by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,448 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 7.5% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #1,448
- most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #34
- cheapest of 83 in Michigan (2BR)
- -14%
- vs the state average
- $30,560
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (31.8%); 14 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; 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 Hillsdale County, MI. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Hillsdale County, Michigan at $764 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,002/mo and a studio is $691/mo. This is 20% lower than the national average of $959 and 14% below the Michigan average of $891.
Rent increased7.5% from FY 2025 ($711), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $30,560/year.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Michigan. Population: 45,698. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.4%, Census ACS). That's in line with Michigan's statewide growth of +0.9% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Hillsdale 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, Hillsdale County's 2-bedroom of $1,002 ranks #1,448 most affordable of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.
This is a below-average rent market: 1-bedroom FMR is 20% under the US average of $959 and 14% below Michigan's $891. HUD's 1-bedroom figure shifted from $711 (FY 2025) to $764 (FY 2026), a +7.5% move that still leaves this county below the US mid-point.
A 1-bedroom at $764 needs $30,560/year under the 30% rule against a county median of $60,869, and the median household clears that line with room to spare. A 2-bedroom at $1,002 is the next step up.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $707 | $691 | $-16 (-2.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $711 | $764 | +$53 (+7.5%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $933 | $1,002 | +$69 (+7.4%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,188 | $1,252 | +$64 (+5.4%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,237 | $1,327 | +$90 (+7.3%) |
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 Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,002 higher than 46% 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 Hillsdale 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
- Genesee
Genesee County
$856 1BR FMR / mo
- Hillsdale
Hillsdale County
$764 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Hillsdale 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), Genesee County ($856), Hillsdale County (this county) ($764).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
With a below-average 1-bedroom at $764/mo, most of these Michigan occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.
| Occupation | MI Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $107,820 | 8.5% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $99,660 | 9.2% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $85,670 | 10.7% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,720 | 11.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $74,420 | 12.3% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $72,680 | 12.6% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,350 | 14.7% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,490 | 14.9% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,140 | 16.6% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $42,560 | 21.5% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $40,040 | 22.9% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,000 | 26.2% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,340 | 27.5% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,960 | 29.6% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,870 | 31.8% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Hillsdale County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Hillsdale (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 38.9% overall, from $550 to $764. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.9% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑7.5% | $691 | $764 | $1,002 |
| FY 2025 ↓1.9% | $707 | $711 | $933 |
| FY 2024 ↑14.9% | $720 | $725 | $952 |
| FY 2023 ↑2.4% | $575 | $631 | $831 |
| FY 2022 ↑1.5% | $561 | $616 | $811 |
| FY 2021 ↑10.4% | $548 | $607 | $800 |
| FY 2020 | $540 | $550 | $725 |
Part of the Hillsdale, MI Micro Area
Hillsdale County is a central county of the Hillsdale, MI micropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Michigan
Largest counties by population in Michigan
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Hillsdale County? ▼
How does Hillsdale County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Hillsdale County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Hillsdale County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Hillsdale County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Hillsdale County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Hillsdale County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Hillsdale County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Hillsdale County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Hillsdale'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 $764 implies about $30,560/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 Hillsdale 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.