County FMR · HUD FY2026
Houston County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Houston County, MN - 7% below the US average.
- $889
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,166
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -2.5%
- YoY change
- -7%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Houston is the 22nd most expensive of 87 counties in Minnesota by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #22
- most expensive of 87 in Minnesota (2BR)
- -1%
- vs the state average
- $35,560
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- -2.5%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (33.4%); 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 Houston County, MN. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Houston County, Minnesota is $889 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,166/mo and a studio is $804/mo. This is 7% lower than the national average of $959 and 1% below the Minnesota average of $899.
Rent decreased2.5% from FY 2025 ($912), declining against the trend. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $35,560/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Minnesota. Population: 18,826. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.6%, Census ACS). That's slower than Minnesota's statewide growth of +3.4% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Houston County
The Houston County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Minnesota'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 7% below the US average of $959 and 1% lower than the Minnesota state average of $899. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$912 in FY 2025 to $889 in FY 2026 - a change of -2.5%, which is unusual and suggests softening demand or revised HUD sampling.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $889, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $35,560 per year (about $2,963/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,166 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 18,826 and a county median household income of $77,087, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $821 | $804 | $-17 (-2.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $912 | $889 | $-23 (-2.5%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,197 | $1,166 | $-31 (-2.6%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,579 | $1,515 | $-64 (-4.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,990 | $1,903 | $-87 (-4.4%) |
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 Houston 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.
Houston County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Houston sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,166 Top 35% higher than 65% 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 Houston 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
- St. Louis
St. Louis County
$978 1BR FMR / mo
- Houston
Houston County
$889 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Houston 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), St. Louis County ($978), Houston County (this county) ($889).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $889/mo compares to Minnesota salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | MN Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $124,540 | 8.6% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $100,870 | 10.6% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $96,130 | 11.1% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $83,310 | 12.8% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $81,430 | 13.1% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $81,100 | 13.2% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $67,320 | 15.8% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $63,120 | 16.9% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $61,090 | 17.5% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $48,560 | 22% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $47,470 | 22.5% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $38,320 | 27.8% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $38,160 | 28% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,310 | 30.2% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $31,950 | 33.4% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Houston County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Houston (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 41.3% overall, from $629 to $889. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.4% (FY 2023).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓2.5% | $804 | $889 | $1,166 |
| FY 2025 ↑5.3% | $821 | $912 | $1,197 |
| FY 2024 ↑8.4% | $760 | $866 | $1,122 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.4% | $685 | $799 | $1,024 |
| FY 2022 ↑7.6% | $618 | $724 | $930 |
| FY 2021 ↑7.0% | $577 | $673 | $874 |
| FY 2020 | $540 | $629 | $829 |
Part of the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metro Area
Houston County is a central county of the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Houston County ranks #2 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: La Crosse County ($889), Houston County (this county) ($889), Vernon County ($760).
Nearby Counties in Minnesota
Largest counties by population in Minnesota
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Houston County? ▼
How does Houston County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Houston County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Houston County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Houston County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Houston County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Houston County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Houston County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Houston'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 $889 implies about $35,560/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 Houston 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.