County FMR · HUD FY2026
Ingham County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Ingham County, MI - 6% above the US average.
- $1,012
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,268
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +11.8%
- YoY change
- +6%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Ingham is the 14th most expensive of 83 counties in Michigan by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #818 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 11.8% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #818
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #14
- most expensive of 83 in Michigan (2BR)
- +14%
- vs the state average
- $40,480
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (42.1%); 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 Ingham County, MI. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Ingham County, Michigan is $1,012 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,268/mo and a studio is $973/mo. This is 6% higher than the national average of $959 and 14% above the Michigan average of $891.
Rent increased11.8% from FY 2025 ($905), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $40,480/year for a 1-bedroom.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Michigan. Population: 282,540. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.6%, Census ACS). That's slower than Michigan's statewide growth of +0.9% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Ingham 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, Ingham County's 2-bedroom of $1,268 ranks #818 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.
Ingham County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (6% above the US average of $959), while sitting 14% above the Michigan average of $891. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$905 in FY 2025 to $1,012 in FY 2026, a change of +11.8%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,012, the 30% rule points to $40,480/year (about $3,373/month) versus this county's median household income of $64,354. A 2-bedroom at $1,268 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $870 | $973 | +$103 (+11.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $905 | $1,012 | +$107 (+11.8%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,127 | $1,268 | +$141 (+12.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,465 | $1,627 | +$162 (+11.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,494 | $1,679 | +$185 (+12.4%) |
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 Ingham 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 Ingham sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,268 Top 26% higher than 74% 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 Ingham 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
- Ingham
Ingham County
$1,012 1BR FMR / mo
- Genesee
Genesee County
$856 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Ingham 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), Ingham County (this county) ($1,012), Genesee County ($856).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,012/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 | 11.3% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $99,660 | 12.2% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $85,670 | 14.2% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,720 | 15.6% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $74,420 | 16.3% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $72,680 | 16.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,350 | 19.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,490 | 19.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,140 | 22% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $42,560 | 28.5% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $40,040 | 30.3% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,000 | 34.7% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,340 | 36.4% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,960 | 39.2% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,870 | 42.1% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Ingham County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Ingham (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 40.2% overall, from $722 to $1,012. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +13.2% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑11.8% | $973 | $1,012 | $1,268 |
| FY 2025 ↑2.0% | $870 | $905 | $1,127 |
| FY 2024 ↑2.2% | $847 | $887 | $1,092 |
| FY 2023 ↑13.2% | $837 | $868 | $1,063 |
| FY 2022 ↑3.6% | $733 | $767 | $936 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.5% | $710 | $740 | $909 |
| FY 2020 | $682 | $722 | $893 |
Part of the Lansing-East Lansing, MI Metro Area
Ingham County is a central county of the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Ingham County ranks #3 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Eaton County ($1,012), Clinton County ($1,012), Ingham County (this county) ($1,012).
Nearby Counties in Michigan
Largest counties by population in Michigan
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Ingham County? ▼
How does Ingham County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Ingham County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Ingham County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Ingham County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Ingham County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Ingham County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Ingham County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Ingham County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Ingham'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 $1,012 implies about $40,480/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 Ingham 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.