County FMR · HUD FY2026
Martin County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Martin County, MN - 16% below the US average.
- $803
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $973
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +12.8%
- YoY change
- -16%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Martin is the 21st cheapest of 87 counties in Minnesota by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #976 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 12.8% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #976
- most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #21
- cheapest of 87 in Minnesota (2BR)
- -11%
- vs the state average
- $32,120
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (30.2%); 14 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 Martin County, MN. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Martin County, Minnesota at $803 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $973/mo and a studio is $671/mo. This is 16% lower than the national average of $959 and 11% below the Minnesota average of $899.
Rent increased12.8% from FY 2025 ($712), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $32,120/year.
Observed renter burden: 41.3% of the 2,441 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 5.8%, 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 4.3% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Minnesota. Population: 19,960. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.5%, Census ACS). That's slower than Minnesota's statewide growth of +3.4% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area MARTIN·COUNTY·MN·MN
Martin County, MN: $803/mo 1BR · #976 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA MN
- 1BR-FMR $803
- 2BR-FMR $973
- RANK-MID #976
- YOY-SURGE +12.8%
- VSUS-BELOW -16%
- VS-ST-LOW -11% MN
- INC-ROOM 15%
- POP-SMALL 20K
- PHOTO-NEAR Hennepin County
- VOUCH-90-110 $723–$883
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Hennepin ($602 1BR gap)
Read with: Section 8 housing guide
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $640 | $671 | +$31 (+4.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $712 | $803 | +$91 (+12.8%) |
| 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 Martin 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 Martin sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$973 higher than 31% 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 Martin compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Minnesota counties
- Hennepin
Hennepin County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Ramsey
Ramsey County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Dakota
Dakota County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Anoka
Anoka County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Washington
Washington County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Louis
St. Louis County
$978 1BR FMR / mo
- Martin
Martin County
$803 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Martin 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), Martin County (this county) ($803).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
With a below-average 1-bedroom at $803/mo, most of these Minnesota occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.
| Occupation | MN Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $124,540 | 7.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $100,870 | 9.6% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $96,130 | 10% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $83,310 | 11.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $81,430 | 11.8% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $81,100 | 11.9% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $67,320 | 14.3% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $63,120 | 15.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $61,090 | 15.8% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $48,560 | 19.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $47,470 | 20.3% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $38,320 | 25.1% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $38,160 | 25.3% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,310 | 27.3% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $31,950 | 30.2% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Martin County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Martin (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 48.2% overall, from $542 to $803. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.8% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑12.8% | $671 | $803 | $973 |
| FY 2025 ↑1.7% | $640 | $712 | $933 |
| FY 2024 ↑8.5% | $624 | $700 | $920 |
| FY 2023 ↑9.9% | $568 | $645 | $849 |
| FY 2022 ↑5.4% | $514 | $587 | $773 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.8% | $484 | $557 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $471 | $542 | $714 |
Part of the Fairmont, MN Micro Area
Martin County is a central county of the Fairmont, MN micropolitan statistical area.
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Martin 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).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MN).
Nearby Counties in Minnesota
Largest counties by population in Minnesota
Showing the 8 largest of 86 other counties in Minnesota.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Martin County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Martin County is $803 per month. A 2-bedroom is $973 and a studio is $671.
How does Martin County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Martin County is 16% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $803 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Martin County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Martin 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 Martin County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $32,120 ($2,677/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Martin County.
Is rent going up or down in Martin County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Martin County increased by 12.8% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $712 to $803.
Which jobs can afford rent in Martin 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 $803/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Martin County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Martin County went from $542 in FY 2020 to $803 in FY 2026, a total change of +48.2% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Martin County?
In Martin County, the FY 2026 FMR of $803/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 Martin County?
For Martin County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($803/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Martin County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 5.8%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in Martin County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.3% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Martin'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 $803 implies about $32,120/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Minnesota counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Hennepin
- See where Martin 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.