County FMR · HUD FY2026
Mackinac County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Mackinac County, MI - 19% below the US average.
- $780
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,023
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +9.7%
- YoY change
- -19%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Mackinac is the 39th cheapest of 83 counties in Michigan by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 9.7% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #39
- cheapest of 83 in Michigan (2BR)
- -12%
- vs the state average
- $31,200
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +9.7%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (32.4%); 13 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; 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 Mackinac County, MI. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Mackinac County, Michigan at $780 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,023/mo and a studio is $775/mo. This is 19% lower than the national average of $959 and 12% below the Michigan average of $891.
Rent increased9.7% from FY 2025 ($711), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $31,200/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Michigan. Population: 10,843. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.4%, Census ACS). That's in line with Michigan's statewide growth of +0.9% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Mackinac County
The Mackinac 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.
Mackinac County's 1-bedroom rent runs 19% below the US average of $959 and 12% lower than the Michigan state average of $891. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$711 in FY 2025 to $780 in FY 2026 - a change of +9.7%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $780, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $31,200 per year (about $2,600/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,023 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 10,843 and a county median household income of $58,598, 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 | $707 | $775 | +$68 (+9.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $711 | $780 | +$69 (+9.7%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $933 | $1,023 | +$90 (+9.6%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,124 | $1,227 | +$103 (+9.2%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,328 | $1,451 | +$123 (+9.3%) |
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 Mackinac 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.
Mackinac County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Mackinac sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,023 higher than 49% 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 Mackinac 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
- Genesee
Genesee County
$856 1BR FMR / mo
- Mackinac
Mackinac County
$780 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Mackinac 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), Genesee County ($856), Mackinac County (this county) ($780).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $780/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 | 8.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $99,660 | 9.4% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $85,670 | 10.9% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,720 | 12% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $74,420 | 12.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $72,680 | 12.9% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,350 | 15% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,490 | 15.2% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,140 | 17% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $42,560 | 22% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $40,040 | 23.4% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,000 | 26.7% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,340 | 28.1% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,960 | 30.2% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,870 | 32.4% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Mackinac County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Mackinac (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 25.6% overall, from $621 to $780. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.1% (FY 2023).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑9.7% | $775 | $780 | $1,023 |
| FY 2025 ↓2.5% | $707 | $711 | $933 |
| FY 2024 ↓0.3% | $725 | $729 | $905 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.1% | $571 | $731 | $826 |
| FY 2022 ↑3.1% | $524 | $664 | $757 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.7% | $503 | $644 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $495 | $621 | $713 |
Where Mackinac County Ranks in Michigan
Mackinac 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 #39 of 83 counties in Michigan. Nearest by rank: Ogemaw County ($989), Cass County ($993), Lake County ($994), Hillsdale County ($1,002), Mecosta County ($1,010), Isabella County ($1,013), Van Buren County ($1,016), St. Joseph County ($1,019), Mackinac County (this county) ($1,023), Mason County ($1,026), Bay County ($1,030), Genesee County ($1,033), Crawford County ($1,038), Charlevoix County ($1,039), Manistee County ($1,048), Cheboygan County ($1,054), Chippewa County ($1,066).
Nearby Counties in Michigan
Largest counties by population in Michigan
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Mackinac County? ▼
How does Mackinac County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Mackinac County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Mackinac County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Mackinac County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Mackinac County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Mackinac County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Mackinac County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Mackinac'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 $780 implies about $31,200/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 Mackinac 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.