County FMR · HUD FY2026
Kent County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Kent County, MI - 33% above the US average.
- $1,278
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,531
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +5.7%
- YoY change
- +33%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Kent is the 2nd most expensive of 83 counties in Michigan by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #440 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 5.7% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #440
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #2
- most expensive of 83 in Michigan (2BR)
- +43%
- vs the state average
- $51,120
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (14.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (53.1%); 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 Kent County, MI. Verify with HUD →
Kent County, Michigan carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,278 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,531/mo and a studio is $1,232/mo. That's 33% above the national benchmark of $959 and 43% above the Michigan average of $891.
Rent increased5.7% from FY 2025 ($1,209), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $51,120/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
Observed renter burden: 46.6% of the 75,547 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 4.1%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.2% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Michigan. Population: 657,321. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.4%, Census ACS). That's faster than Michigan's statewide growth of +0.9% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area KENT·COUNTY·MI·MI
Kent County, MI: $1,278/mo 1BR · #440 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA MI
- 1BR-FMR $1,278
- 2BR-FMR $1,531
- RANK-MID #440
- YOY-SURGE +5.7%
- VSUS-HIGH +33%
- VS-ST-HIGH +43% MI
- INC-ROOM 19%
- POP-MAJOR 657K
- PHOTO-NEAR Wayne County
- VOUCH-90-110 $1,150–$1,406
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Wayne ($156 1BR gap)
Read with: Understanding rent burden
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,163 | $1,232 | +$69 (+5.9%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,209 | $1,278 | +$69 (+5.7%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,443 | $1,531 | +$88 (+6.1%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,880 | $1,980 | +$100 (+5.3%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,057 | $2,189 | +$132 (+6.4%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Kent 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 Kent sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,531 Top 14% higher than 86% 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 Kent compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Michigan counties
- Washtenaw
Washtenaw County
$1,387 1BR FMR / mo
- Ottawa
Ottawa County
$1,333 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
What this shows Kent is highlighted. Nearby Michigan counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Washtenaw County ($1,387), Ottawa County ($1,333), Kent County (this county) ($1,278), Wayne County ($1,122), Oakland County ($1,122), Macomb County ($1,122), Genesee County ($856).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,278/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Michigan BLS wages?
| Occupation | MI Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $107,820 | 14.2% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $99,660 | 15.4% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $85,670 | 17.9% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,720 | 19.7% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $74,420 | 20.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $72,680 | 21.1% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,350 | 24.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,490 | 24.9% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,140 | 27.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $42,560 | 36% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $40,040 | 38.3% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,000 | 43.8% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,340 | 46% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,960 | 49.5% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,870 | 53.1% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Kent County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Kent (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 62.0% overall, from $789 to $1,278. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 28.2% (FY 2023), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑5.7% | $1,232 | $1,278 | $1,531 |
| FY 2025 ↑5.9% | $1,163 | $1,209 | $1,443 |
| FY 2024 ↑3.7% | $1,093 | $1,142 | $1,369 |
| FY 2023 ↑28.2% | $1,044 | $1,101 | $1,326 |
| FY 2022 ↑5.1% | $798 | $859 | $1,041 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.5% | $739 | $817 | $994 |
| FY 2020 | $686 | $789 | $962 |
Part of the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI Metro Area
Kent County is a central county of the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metropolitan statistical area, alongside 4 other metro-area counties.
Kent County ranks #2 of 5 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Ottawa County ($1,333), Kent County (this county) ($1,278), Barry County ($1,017), Montcalm County ($1,016), Ionia County ($921).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Kent County, both outside Michigan so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.
Similar 2-bedroom FMR
Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside MI (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MI).
Nearby Counties in Michigan
Largest counties by population in Michigan
Showing the 8 largest of 82 other counties in Michigan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Kent County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Kent County is $1,278 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,531 and a studio is $1,232.
How does Kent County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Kent County is 33% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,278 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Kent County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Kent County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,531 ranks #440 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Kent County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $51,120 ($4,260/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Kent County.
Is rent going up or down in Kent County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Kent County increased by 5.7% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,209 to $1,278.
Which jobs can afford rent in Kent 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 $1,278/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Kent County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Kent County went from $789 in FY 2020 to $1,278 in FY 2026, a total change of +62.0% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Kent County?
In Kent County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,278/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 Kent County?
For Kent County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,278/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Kent County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 4.1%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in Kent County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.2% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Kent's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,278 implies about $51,120/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Michigan counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Wayne
- See where Kent ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.