County FMR · HUD FY2026
Livingston County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Livingston County, MI - 32% above the US average.
- $1,264
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,457
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +3.9%
- YoY change
- +32%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Livingston is the 5th most expensive of 83 counties in Michigan by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #5
- most expensive of 83 in Michigan (2BR)
- +42%
- vs the state average
- $50,560
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +3.9%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (14.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (52.5%); 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 Livingston County, MI. Verify with HUD →
Livingston County, Michigan carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,264 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,457/mo and a studio is $1,005/mo. That's 32% above the national benchmark of $959 and 42% above the Michigan average of $891.
Rent increased3.9% from FY 2025 ($1,216), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $50,560/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Michigan. Population: 194,302. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.5%, Census ACS). That's faster than Michigan's statewide growth of +0.9% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Livingston County
The Livingston County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Michigan'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 32% above the US average of $959 and 42% higher than the Michigan state average of $891. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$1,216 in FY 2025 to $1,264 in FY 2026 - a change of +3.9%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,264, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $50,560 per year (about $4,213/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,457 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 194,302 and a county median household income of $101,315, 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 | $968 | $1,005 | +$37 (+3.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,216 | $1,264 | +$48 (+3.9%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,411 | $1,457 | +$46 (+3.3%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,972 | $2,026 | +$54 (+2.7%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,212 | $2,285 | +$73 (+3.3%) |
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 Livingston 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.
Livingston County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Livingston sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,457 Top 16% higher than 84% 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 Livingston 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
- Livingston
Livingston County
$1,264 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 Livingston is highlighted. Nearby Michigan counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Washtenaw County ($1,387), Kent County ($1,278), Livingston County (this county) ($1,264), Wayne County ($1,122), Oakland County ($1,122), Macomb County ($1,122), Genesee County ($856).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,264/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 | 14.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $99,660 | 15.2% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $85,670 | 17.7% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,720 | 19.5% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $74,420 | 20.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $72,680 | 20.9% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,350 | 24.3% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,490 | 24.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,140 | 27.5% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $42,560 | 35.6% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $40,040 | 37.9% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,000 | 43.3% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,340 | 45.5% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,960 | 49% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,870 | 52.5% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Livingston County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Livingston (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 57.8% overall, from $801 to $1,264. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.0% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑3.9% | $1,005 | $1,264 | $1,457 |
| FY 2025 ↑5.3% | $968 | $1,216 | $1,411 |
| FY 2024 ↑8.0% | $920 | $1,155 | $1,358 |
| FY 2023 ↑14.0% | $843 | $1,069 | $1,261 |
| FY 2022 ↑6.5% | $747 | $938 | $1,125 |
| FY 2021 ↑10.0% | $757 | $881 | $1,080 |
| FY 2020 | $657 | $801 | $1,007 |
Part of the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metro Area
Livingston County is a outlying county of the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metropolitan statistical area, alongside 5 other metro-area counties.
Livingston County ranks #1 of 6 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Livingston County (this county) ($1,264), Wayne County ($1,122), Oakland County ($1,122), Macomb County ($1,122), St. Clair County ($1,122), Lapeer County ($1,122).
Nearby Counties in Michigan
Largest counties by population in Michigan
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Livingston County? ▼
How does Livingston County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Livingston County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Livingston County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Livingston County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Livingston County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Livingston County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Livingston County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Livingston'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 $1,264 implies about $50,560/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 Livingston 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.