County FMR · HUD FY2026
Marathon County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Marathon County, WI - 7% below the US average.
- $889
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,147
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +10.7%
- YoY change
- -7%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Marathon is the 25th most expensive of 72 counties in Wisconsin by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,132 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 10.7% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #1,132
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #25
- most expensive of 72 in Wisconsin (2BR)
- +2%
- vs the state average
- $35,560
- income to afford it (30% rule)
General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (37.4%); 13 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Wisconsin counties range as much as 59% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Marathon County, WI. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Marathon County, Wisconsin at $889 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,147/mo and a studio is $791/mo. This is 7% lower than the national average of $959 and 2% above the Wisconsin average of $872.
Rent increased10.7% from FY 2025 ($803), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $35,560/year for a 1-bedroom.
Observed renter burden: 40.1% of the 15,119 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 2.9% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Wisconsin. Population: 137,820. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.1%, Census ACS). That's in line with Wisconsin's statewide growth of +2.0% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area MARATHON·COUNTY·WI·WI
Marathon County, WI: $889/mo 1BR · #1132 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA WI
- 1BR-FMR $889
- 2BR-FMR $1,147
- RANK-MID #1,132
- YOY-SURGE +10.7%
- VSUS-NEAR -7%
- VS-ST-NEAR +2% WI
- INC-ROOM 14%
- POP-MID 138K
- PHOTO-NEAR Milwaukee County
- VOUCH-90-110 $800–$978
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Milwaukee ($230 1BR gap)
Read with: How Fair Market Rent works
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $723 | $791 | +$68 (+9.4%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $803 | $889 | +$86 (+10.7%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,054 | $1,147 | +$93 (+8.8%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,379 | $1,511 | +$132 (+9.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,397 | $1,519 | +$122 (+8.7%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Marathon 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 Marathon sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,147 Top 36% higher than 64% 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 Marathon compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Wisconsin counties
- Dane
Dane County
$1,482 1BR FMR / mo
- Milwaukee
Milwaukee County
$1,119 1BR FMR / mo
- Waukesha
Waukesha County
$1,119 1BR FMR / mo
- Racine
Racine County
$988 1BR FMR / mo
- Outagamie
Outagamie County
$960 1BR FMR / mo
- Brown
Brown County
$931 1BR FMR / mo
- Marathon
Marathon County
$889 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Marathon is highlighted. Nearby Wisconsin counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Dane County ($1,482), Milwaukee County ($1,119), Waukesha County ($1,119), Racine County ($988), Outagamie County ($960), Brown County ($931), Marathon County (this county) ($889).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $889/mo compares to Wisconsin salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | WI Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| General & Operations Managers | $113,170 | 9.4% | Affordable |
| Software Developers | $103,360 | 10.3% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $86,070 | 12.4% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $78,980 | 13.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $78,150 | 13.7% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $75,090 | 14.2% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $60,690 | 17.6% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,380 | 18.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $56,520 | 18.9% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $45,980 | 23.2% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $43,620 | 24.5% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,050 | 29.6% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,850 | 29.8% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,640 | 31.7% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,500 | 37.4% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Marathon County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Marathon (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 48.2% overall, from $600 to $889. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.1% (FY 2023).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑10.7% | $791 | $889 | $1,147 |
| FY 2025 ↑3.5% | $723 | $803 | $1,054 |
| FY 2024 ↑9.6% | $691 | $776 | $1,020 |
| FY 2023 ↑11.1% | $623 | $708 | $932 |
| FY 2022 ↑3.1% | $557 | $637 | $838 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.0% | $536 | $618 | $813 |
| FY 2020 | $506 | $600 | $777 |
Part of the Wausau, WI Metro Area
Marathon County is a central county of the Wausau, WI metropolitan statistical area.
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Marathon County, both outside Wisconsin 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 WI (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside WI).
Nearby Counties in Wisconsin
Largest counties by population in Wisconsin
Showing the 8 largest of 71 other counties in Wisconsin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Marathon County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Marathon County is $889 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,147 and a studio is $791.
How does Marathon County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Marathon County is 7% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $889 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Marathon County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Marathon County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,147 ranks #1,132 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Marathon County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $35,560 ($2,963/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Marathon County.
Is rent going up or down in Marathon County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Marathon County increased by 10.7% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $803 to $889.
Which jobs can afford rent in Marathon County?
Based on Wisconsin BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like General and Operations Managers, Software Developers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $889/mo. 13 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Marathon County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Marathon County went from $600 in FY 2020 to $889 in FY 2026, a total change of +48.2% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Marathon County?
In Marathon County, the FY 2026 FMR of $889/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 Marathon County?
For Marathon County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($889/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Marathon 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 Marathon County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 2.9% over the past 12 months, a tight labor market that typically supports steadier rent demand.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Marathon'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 $889 implies about $35,560/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Wisconsin counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Milwaukee
- See where Marathon 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.