County FMR · HUD FY2026
Mecosta County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Mecosta County, MI - 17% below the US average.
- $796
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,010
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +3.2%
- YoY change
- -17%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Mecosta is the 35th cheapest of 83 counties in Michigan by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #35
- cheapest of 83 in Michigan (2BR)
- -11%
- vs the state average
- $31,840
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +3.2%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (33.1%); 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 Mecosta County, MI. Verify with HUD →
Mecosta County, Michigan carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $796 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,010/mo and a studio is $715/mo. That's 17% below the national benchmark of $959 and 11% below the Michigan average of $891.
Rent increased3.2% from FY 2025 ($771), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $31,840/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Michigan. Population: 40,128. Population declined 6.8% 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 Michigan's statewide growth of +0.9% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Mecosta County
The Mecosta 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.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 17% below the US average of $959 and 11% lower than the Michigan state average of $891. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$771 in FY 2025 to $796 in FY 2026 - a change of +3.2%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $796, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $31,840 per year (about $2,653/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,010 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 40,128 and a county median household income of $57,774, 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 | $670 | $715 | +$45 (+6.7%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $771 | $796 | +$25 (+3.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $956 | $1,010 | +$54 (+5.6%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,225 | $1,288 | +$63 (+5.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,360 | $1,432 | +$72 (+5.3%) |
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 Mecosta 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.
Mecosta County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Mecosta sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,010 higher than 47% 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 Mecosta 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
- Mecosta
Mecosta County
$796 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Mecosta 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), Mecosta County (this county) ($796).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $796/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 | 8.9% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $99,660 | 9.6% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $85,670 | 11.1% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,720 | 12.3% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $74,420 | 12.8% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $72,680 | 13.1% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,350 | 15.3% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,490 | 15.5% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,140 | 17.3% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $42,560 | 22.4% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $40,040 | 23.9% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $35,000 | 27.3% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,340 | 28.7% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,960 | 30.9% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $28,870 | 33.1% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Mecosta County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Mecosta (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 30.1% overall, from $612 to $796. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +13.0% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑3.2% | $715 | $796 | $1,010 |
| FY 2025 ↓3.5% | $670 | $771 | $956 |
| FY 2024 ↑13.0% | $656 | $799 | $939 |
| FY 2023 ↑9.4% | $571 | $707 | $826 |
| FY 2022 ↑4.7% | $552 | $646 | $766 |
| FY 2021 ↑0.8% | $613 | $617 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $609 | $612 | $713 |
Part of the Big Rapids, MI Micro Area
Mecosta County is a central county of the Big Rapids, MI micropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Michigan
Largest counties by population in Michigan
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Mecosta County? ▼
How does Mecosta County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Mecosta County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Mecosta County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Mecosta County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Mecosta County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Mecosta County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Mecosta County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Mecosta'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 $796 implies about $31,840/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 Mecosta 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.