County FMR · HUD FY2026

Lincoln County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Lincoln County, MN - 23% below the US average.

$742
1-bedroom FMR
$973
2-bedroom FMR
+1.6%
YoY change
-23%
vs US avg

The verdict

Lincoln is the 17th cheapest of 87 counties in Minnesota by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #976 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.

#976
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#17
cheapest of 87 in Minnesota (2BR)
-17%
vs the state average
$29,680
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (27.9%); 15 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 Lincoln County, MN. Verify with HUD →

Lincoln County, Minnesota carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $742 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $973/mo and a studio is $671/mo. That's 23% below the national benchmark of $959 and 17% below the Minnesota average of $899.

Rent increased1.6% from FY 2025 ($730), roughly tracking inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $29,680/year.

Observed renter burden: 30.2% of the 437 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.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Minnesota. Population: 5,630. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.0%, Census ACS). That's slower than Minnesota's statewide growth of +3.4% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area LINCOLN·COUNTY·MN·MN

Lincoln County, MN: $742/mo 1BR · #976 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA MN
  • 1BR-FMR $742
  • 2BR-FMR $973
  • RANK-MID #976
  • YOY-FLAT +1.6%
  • VSUS-BELOW -23%
  • VS-ST-LOW -17% MN
  • INC-ROOM 13%
  • POP-SMALL 6K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Hennepin County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $668–$816
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Hennepin ($663 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $809 · US avg: $893
$671/mo
↑ 4.8% YoY -17% vs state -25% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $899 · US avg: $959
$742/mo
↑ 1.6% YoY -17% vs state -23% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,125 · US avg: $1,175
$973/mo
↑ 4.3% YoY -14% vs state -17% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,483 · US avg: $1,525
$1,283/mo
↑ 4.1% YoY -13% vs state -16% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,698 · US avg: $1,756
$1,288/mo
↑ 4.1% YoY -24% vs state -27% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $640
$671
+$31 (+4.8%)
1 Bedroom $730
$742
+$12 (+1.6%)
2 Bedroom $933
$973
+$40 (+4.3%)
3 Bedroom $1,232
$1,283
+$51 (+4.1%)
4 Bedroom $1,237
$1,288
+$51 (+4.1%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
11.9%
Affordable
Need $26,840/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
13.1%
Affordable
Need $29,680/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
17.2%
Affordable
Need $38,920/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
22.7%
Affordable
Need $51,320/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
22.8%
Affordable
Need $51,520/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.

0%100%National avg22%17.2%
Lincoln County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $67,715 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Minnesota rent burden →

Where Lincoln sits among every US county

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

$973 higher than 31% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Above this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $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 Lincoln compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Minnesota counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Lincoln 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), Lincoln County (this county) ($742).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $742/mo, most of these Minnesota occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation MN Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $124,540 7.1% Affordable
Registered Nurses $100,870 8.8% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $96,130 9.3% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $83,310 10.7% Affordable
Electricians $81,430 10.9% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $81,100 11% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $67,320 13.2% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $63,120 14.1% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $61,090 14.6% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $48,560 18.3% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $47,470 18.8% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $38,320 23.2% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $38,160 23.3% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $35,310 25.2% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $31,950 27.9% Affordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Minnesota) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Lincoln (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 36.9% overall, from $542 to $742. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.4% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$500$550$600$650$700$750$800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $742
Lincoln County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑1.6% $671 $742 $973
FY 2025 ↑6.0% $640 $730 $933
FY 2024 ↑3.9% $613 $689 $905
FY 2023 ↑12.4% $552 $663 $826
FY 2022 ↑4.4% $503 $590 $757
FY 2021 ↑4.2% $484 $565 $734
FY 2020 $471 $542 $714
Total change (6yr): +36.9%
Annualized: +5.4%/yr
1 BR: $542 → $742

Where Lincoln County Ranks in Minnesota

Lincoln County is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #17 of 87 counties in Minnesota. Nearest by rank: Faribault County ($973), Grant County ($973), Jackson County ($973), Kanabec County ($973), Kandiyohi County ($973), Kittson County ($973), Koochiching County ($973), Lac qui Parle County ($973), Lincoln County (this county) ($973), Lyon County ($973), Mahnomen County ($973), Marshall County ($973), Martin County ($973), Morrison County ($973), Murray County ($973), Norman County ($973), Pipestone County ($973).

Faribault County
2 BR: $973/mo
Grant County
2 BR: $973/mo
Jackson County
2 BR: $973/mo
Kanabec County
2 BR: $973/mo
Kandiyohi County
2 BR: $973/mo
Kittson County
2 BR: $973/mo
Koochiching County
2 BR: $973/mo
Lac qui Parle County
2 BR: $973/mo
Lincoln County (this county)
2 BR: $973/mo
Lyon County
2 BR: $973/mo
Mahnomen County
2 BR: $973/mo
Marshall County
2 BR: $973/mo
Martin County
2 BR: $973/mo
Morrison County
2 BR: $973/mo
Murray County
2 BR: $973/mo
Norman County
2 BR: $973/mo
Pipestone County
2 BR: $973/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Lincoln County, both outside Minnesota 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 MN (FY2026).

Mahoning County
OH · 2 BR $973/mo
Trumbull County
OH · 2 BR $973/mo
Richland County
OH · 2 BR $973/mo
Columbiana County
OH · 2 BR $973/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MN).

Finney County
KS · 17.2% of income · 2 BR $1,041/mo
Lincoln County
WI · 17.2% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Jasper County
IA · 17.2% of income · 2 BR $1,008/mo
Pecos County
TX · 17.2% of income · 2 BR $973/mo

Nearby Counties in Minnesota

Largest counties by population in Minnesota

Showing the 8 largest of 86 other counties in Minnesota.

Hennepin County
1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 1,270,787
Ramsey County
1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 547,202
Dakota County
1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 439,179
Anoka County
1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 363,985
Washington County
1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 268,651
St. Louis County
1 BR: $978/mo Pop: 200,122
Olmsted County
1 BR: $1,189/mo Pop: 162,307
Stearns County
1 BR: $919/mo Pop: 158,622
View all counties in Minnesota →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Lincoln County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Lincoln County is $742 per month. A 2-bedroom is $973 and a studio is $671.
How does Lincoln County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Lincoln County is 23% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $742 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Lincoln County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Lincoln County's 2-bedroom FMR of $973 ranks #976 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Lincoln County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $29,680 ($2,473/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Lincoln County.
Is rent going up or down in Lincoln County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lincoln County increased by 1.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $730 to $742.
Which jobs can afford rent in Lincoln County? ▼
Based on Minnesota BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $742/mo. 15 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Lincoln County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lincoln County went from $542 in FY 2020 to $742 in FY 2026, a total change of +36.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Lincoln County? ▼
In Lincoln County, the FY 2026 FMR of $742/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 Lincoln County? ▼
For Lincoln County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($742/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.