County FMR · HUD FY2026

McLeod County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for McLeod County, MN - 10% below the US average.

Compiled by PlainRent Editorial, Fair Market Rent Editorial Team · May 15, 2026

$865
1-bedroom FMR: $999
2-bedroom FMR: +13.5%
YoY change: -10%
vs US avg

The verdict

McLeod is the 44th cheapest of 87 counties in Minnesota by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 13.5% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#44
cheapest of 87 in Minnesota (2BR): -4%
vs the state average: $34,600
income to afford it (30% rule): +13.5%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (32.5%); 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 McLeod County, MN. Verify with HUD →

McLeod County, Minnesota carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $865 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $999/mo and a studio is $823/mo. That's 10% below the national benchmark of $959 and 4% below the Minnesota average of $899.

Rent increased13.5% from FY 2025 ($762), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $34,600/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Minnesota. Population: 36,727. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.6%, Census ACS). That's in line with Minnesota's statewide growth of +3.4% over the same period.

What these rents mean for McLeod County

The McLeod County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Minnesota'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 10% below the US average of $959 and 4% lower than the Minnesota state average of $899. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$762 in FY 2025 to $865 in FY 2026 - a change of +13.5%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $865, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $34,600 per year (about $2,883/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $999 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 36,727 and a county median household income of $78,468, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio

State avg: $809 · US avg: $893

$823/mo

↑ 10.0% YoY +2% vs state -8% vs US

1 Bedroom

State avg: $899 · US avg: $959

$865/mo

↑ 13.5% YoY -4% vs state -10% vs US

2 Bedroom

State avg: $1,125 · US avg: $1,175

$999/mo

↑ 7.1% YoY -11% vs state -15% vs US

3 Bedroom

State avg: $1,483 · US avg: $1,525

$1,198/mo

↑ 0.0% YoY -19% vs state -21% vs US

4 Bedroom

State avg: $1,698 · US avg: $1,756

$1,662/mo

↑ 6.1% YoY -2% vs state -5% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms	FY 2025	FY 2026	Change	vs State	vs US
Studio	$748	$823	+$75 (+10.0%)	+2%	-8%
1 Bedroom	$762	$865	+$103 (+13.5%)	-4%	-10%
2 Bedroom	$933	$999	+$66 (+7.1%)	-11%	-15%
3 Bedroom	$1,198	$1,198	$0 (0.0%)	-19%	-21%
4 Bedroom	$1,567	$1,662	+$95 (+6.1%)	-2%	-5%

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR

$34,600

$2,883/month gross

Required annual income for 2 BR

$39,960

$3,330/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in McLeod County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio

12.6%

Affordable

Need $32,920/yr for 30% rule

1 Bedroom

13.2%

Affordable

Need $34,600/yr for 30% rule

2 Bedroom

15.3%

Affordable

Need $39,960/yr for 30% rule

3 Bedroom

18.3%

Affordable

Need $47,920/yr for 30% rule

4 Bedroom

25.4%

Affordable

Need $66,480/yr for 30% rule

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.

McLeod County 2-bedroom rent burden

County median income: $78,468 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Minnesota rent burden →

Where McLeod sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$999 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

Hennepin

$1,405
Ramsey

$1,405
Dakota

$1,405
Anoka

$1,405
Washington

$1,405
St. Louis

$978
McLeod

$865

What this shows McLeod 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), McLeod County (this county) ($865).

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $865/mo compares to Minnesota salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation	MN Salary	Rent Burden	Verdict
Software Developers	$124,540	8.3%	Affordable
Registered Nurses	$100,870	10.3%	Affordable
General & Operations Managers	$96,130	10.8%	Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$83,310	12.5%	Affordable
Electricians	$81,430	12.7%	Affordable
Accountants & Auditors	$81,100	12.8%	Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants	$67,320	15.4%	Affordable
Elementary School Teachers	$63,120	16.4%	Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	$61,090	17%	Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians	$48,560	21.4%	Affordable
Customer Service Representatives	$47,470	21.9%	Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners	$38,320	27.1%	Affordable
Teaching Assistants	$38,160	27.2%	Affordable
Retail Salespersons	$35,310	29.4%	Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers	$31,950	32.5%	Stretched

Salaries: BLS OES (Minnesota) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for McLeod County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for McLeod (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 46.9% overall, from $589 to $865. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.6% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

McLeod County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026

Year	Studio	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
FY 2026 ↑13.5%	$823	$865	$999	$1,198	$1,662
FY 2025 ↑3.4%	$748	$762	$933	$1,198	$1,567
FY 2024 ↑14.6%	$732	$737	$963	$1,331	$1,634
FY 2023 ↑3.0%	$641	$643	$847	$1,204	$1,443
FY 2022 ↑10.1%	$606	$624	$821	$1,166	$1,405
FY 2021 ↓3.7%	$493	$567	$747	$1,069	$1,284
FY 2020	$512	$589	$776	$1,119	$1,280

Total change (6yr): +46.9%

Annualized: +6.6%/yr

1 BR: $589 → $865

Part of the Hutchinson, MN Micro Area

McLeod County is a central county of the Hutchinson, MN micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in Minnesota

Largest counties by population in Minnesota

Hennepin County

1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 1,270,787

Ramsey County

1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 547,202

Dakota County

1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 439,179

Anoka County

1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 363,985

Washington County

1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 268,651

St. Louis County

1 BR: $978/mo Pop: 200,122

Olmsted County

1 BR: $1,189/mo Pop: 162,307

Stearns County

1 BR: $919/mo Pop: 158,622

Compare McLeod County against

View all counties in Minnesota →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in McLeod County? ▼

The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in McLeod County is $865 per month. A 2-bedroom is $999 and a studio is $823.

How does McLeod County rent compare to the national average? ▼

Rent in McLeod County is 10% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $865 compared to $959 nationally.

What income do I need to afford rent in McLeod County? ▼

Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $34,600 ($2,883/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in McLeod County.

Is rent going up or down in McLeod County? ▼

The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in McLeod County increased by 13.5% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $762 to $865.

Which jobs can afford rent in McLeod 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 $865/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.

How much has rent changed in McLeod County over time? ▼

The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in McLeod County went from $589 in FY 2020 to $865 in FY 2026, a total change of +46.9% over 6 years.

How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in McLeod County? ▼

In McLeod County, the FY 2026 FMR of $865/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 McLeod County? ▼

For McLeod County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($865/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat McLeod'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 $865 implies about $34,600/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 McLeod 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.

All federal data sources used on this page

HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

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.