County FMR · HUD FY2026
McHenry County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for McHenry County, ND - 13% below the US average.
- $839
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,000
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +18.7%
- YoY change
- -13%
- vs US avg
The verdict
McHenry is the 16th most expensive of 53 counties in North Dakota by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,416 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 18.7% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #1,416
- most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #16
- most expensive of 53 in North Dakota (2BR)
- +6%
- vs the state average
- $33,560
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (33.5%); 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 McHenry County, ND. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in McHenry County, North Dakota is $839 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,000/mo and a studio is $725/mo. This is 13% lower than the national average of $959 and 6% above the North Dakota average of $795.
Rent increased18.7% from FY 2025 ($707), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $33,560/year for a 1-bedroom.
Observed renter burden: 15.5% of the 446 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 12.9%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.8% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in North Dakota. Population: 5,326. Population declined 11.2% over the past five years (Census ACS), a trend that can ease rental-market pressure over time even as FMR reflects recent rent levels. That's slower than North Dakota's statewide growth of +3.6% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area MCHENRY·COUNTY·ND·ND
McHenry County, ND: $839/mo 1BR · #1416 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA ND
- 1BR-FMR $839
- 2BR-FMR $1,000
- RANK-MID #1,416
- YOY-SURGE +18.7%
- VSUS-BELOW -13%
- VS-ST-NEAR +6% ND
- INC-ROOM 12%
- POP-SMALL 5K
- PHOTO-NEAR Cass County
- VOUCH-90-110 $755–$923
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Cass ($78 1BR gap)
Read with: How Fair Market Rent works
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $703 | $725 | +$22 (+3.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $707 | $839 | +$132 (+18.7%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $928 | $1,000 | +$72 (+7.8%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,199 | $1,387 | +$188 (+15.7%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,558 | $1,678 | +$120 (+7.7%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in McHenry 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 McHenry sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,000 higher than 45% 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 McHenry compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other North Dakota counties
- Williams
Williams County
$1,068 1BR FMR / mo
- Burleigh
Burleigh County
$1,030 1BR FMR / mo
- Morton
Morton County
$1,030 1BR FMR / mo
- Ward
Ward County
$960 1BR FMR / mo
- Cass
Cass County
$917 1BR FMR / mo
- Grand Forks
Grand Forks County
$868 1BR FMR / mo
- McHenry
McHenry County
$839 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows McHenry is highlighted. Nearby North Dakota counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Williams County ($1,068), Burleigh County ($1,030), Morton County ($1,030), Ward County ($960), Cass County ($917), Grand Forks County ($868), McHenry County (this county) ($839).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $839/mo compares to North Dakota salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | ND Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $98,550 | 10.2% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $93,290 | 10.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $78,260 | 12.9% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $75,530 | 13.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $72,180 | 13.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $65,820 | 15.3% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $59,910 | 16.8% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,970 | 17.1% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $57,820 | 17.4% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $47,600 | 21.2% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,160 | 23.3% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,810 | 27.4% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,660 | 27.5% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,670 | 28.2% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $30,010 | 33.5% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for McHenry County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for McHenry (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 33.8% overall, from $627 to $839. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +18.7% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑18.7% | $725 | $839 | $1,000 |
| FY 2025 ↑1.6% | $703 | $707 | $928 |
| FY 2024 ↓3.5% | $692 | $696 | $859 |
| FY 2023 ↑8.6% | $715 | $721 | $826 |
| FY 2022 ↑3.1% | $653 | $664 | $757 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.7% | $629 | $644 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $609 | $627 | $714 |
Part of the Minot, ND Metro Area
McHenry County is a outlying county of the Minot, ND metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
McHenry County ranks #2 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Ward County ($960), McHenry County (this county) ($839), Renville County ($824).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for McHenry County, both outside North Dakota 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 ND (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside ND).
Nearby Counties in North Dakota
Largest counties by population in North Dakota
Showing the 8 largest of 52 other counties in North Dakota.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in McHenry County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in McHenry County is $839 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,000 and a studio is $725.
How does McHenry County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in McHenry County is 13% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $839 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does McHenry County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, McHenry County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,000 ranks #1,416 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 McHenry County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $33,560 ($2,797/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in McHenry County.
Is rent going up or down in McHenry County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in McHenry County increased by 18.7% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $707 to $839.
Which jobs can afford rent in McHenry County?
Based on North Dakota BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $839/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in McHenry County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in McHenry County went from $627 in FY 2020 to $839 in FY 2026, a total change of +33.8% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in McHenry County?
In McHenry County, the FY 2026 FMR of $839/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 McHenry County?
For McHenry County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($839/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in McHenry County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 12.9%, a loose rental market that typically gives renters more negotiating leverage than the FMR schedule alone implies.
What is the unemployment rate in McHenry County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.8% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat McHenry'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 $839 implies about $33,560/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- North Dakota counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Cass
- See where McHenry 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.