County FMR · HUD FY2026

Montcalm County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Montcalm County, MI - 6% above the US average.

$1,016
1-bedroom FMR
$1,203
2-bedroom FMR
+15.1%
YoY change
+6%
vs US avg

The verdict

Montcalm is the 22nd most expensive of 83 counties in Michigan by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #975 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 15.1% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#975
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#22
most expensive of 83 in Michigan (2BR)
+14%
vs the state average
$40,640
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (42.2%); 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 Montcalm County, MI. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Montcalm County, Michigan is $1,016 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,203/mo and a studio is $829/mo. This is 6% higher than the national average of $959 and 14% above the Michigan average of $891.

Rent increased15.1% from FY 2025 ($883), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $40,640/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 37.1% of the 4,304 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.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Michigan. Population: 66,901. Population grew 6.3% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Michigan's statewide growth of +0.9% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area MONTCALM·COUNTY·MI·MI

Montcalm County, MI: $1,016/mo 1BR · #975 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA MI
  • 1BR-FMR $1,016
  • 2BR-FMR $1,203
  • RANK-MID #975
  • YOY-SURGE +15.1%
  • VSUS-NEAR +6%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +14% MI
  • INC-ROOM 19%
  • POP-MID 67K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Wayne County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $914–$1,118
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Wayne ($106 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $807 · US avg: $893
$829/mo
↑ 12.0% YoY +3% vs state -7% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $891 · US avg: $959
$1,016/mo
↑ 15.1% YoY +14% vs state +6% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,113 · US avg: $1,175
$1,203/mo
↑ 13.7% YoY +8% vs state +2% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,419 · US avg: $1,525
$1,473/mo
↑ 13.6% YoY +4% vs state -3% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,588 · US avg: $1,756
$1,593/mo
↑ 13.5% YoY +0% vs state -9% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $740
$829
+$89 (+12.0%)
1 Bedroom $883
$1,016
+$133 (+15.1%)
2 Bedroom $1,058
$1,203
+$145 (+13.7%)
3 Bedroom $1,297
$1,473
+$176 (+13.6%)
4 Bedroom $1,403
$1,593
+$190 (+13.5%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
15.3%
Affordable
Need $33,160/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
18.8%
Affordable
Need $40,640/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
22.2%
Affordable
Need $48,120/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
27.2%
Affordable
Need $58,920/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
29.5%
Affordable
Need $63,720/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.

0%100%National avg22%22.2%
Montcalm County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $64,892 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Michigan rent burden →

Where Montcalm sits among every US county

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

$1,203 Top 31% higher than 69% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). This entry sits in this band. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

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 Montcalm compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Michigan counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Montcalm 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), Montcalm County (this county) ($1,016), Genesee County ($856).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,016/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 11.3% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $99,660 12.2% Affordable
Registered Nurses $85,670 14.2% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,720 15.7% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $74,420 16.4% Affordable
Electricians $72,680 16.8% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $62,350 19.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $61,490 19.8% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,140 22.1% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $42,560 28.6% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $40,040 30.4% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $35,000 34.8% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $33,340 36.6% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $30,960 39.4% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,870 42.2% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Michigan) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Montcalm (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 69.9% overall, from $598 to $1,016. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +18.3% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$500$600$700$800$900$1,000$1,100 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,016
Montcalm County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑15.1% $829 $1,016 $1,203
FY 2025 ↑7.9% $740 $883 $1,058
FY 2024 ↑8.2% $719 $818 $996
FY 2023 ↑18.3% $696 $756 $922
FY 2022 ↓0.6% $608 $639 $782
FY 2021 ↑7.5% $634 $643 $790
FY 2020 $595 $598 $748
Total change (6yr): +69.9%
Annualized: +9.2%/yr
1 BR: $598 → $1,016

Part of the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI Metro Area

Montcalm County is a outlying county of the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metropolitan statistical area, alongside 4 other metro-area counties.

Montcalm County ranks #4 of 5 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Ottawa County ($1,333), Kent County ($1,278), Barry County ($1,017), Montcalm County (this county) ($1,016), Ionia County ($921).

Ottawa County
1 BR: $1,333/mo
Kent County
1 BR: $1,278/mo
Barry County
1 BR: $1,017/mo
Montcalm County (this county)
1 BR: $1,016/mo
Ionia County
1 BR: $921/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Montcalm County, both outside Michigan 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 MI (FY2026).

Sangamon County
IL · 2 BR $1,203/mo
Menard County
IL · 2 BR $1,203/mo
East Baton Rouge Parish
LA · 2 BR $1,204/mo
Livingston Parish
LA · 2 BR $1,204/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MI).

Washington County
TN · 22.3% of income · 2 BR $1,132/mo
Lubbock County
TX · 22.3% of income · 2 BR $1,175/mo
Weber County
UT · 22.2% of income · 2 BR $1,614/mo
Upshur County
WV · 22.2% of income · 2 BR $961/mo

Nearby Counties in Michigan

Largest counties by population in Michigan

Showing the 8 largest of 82 other counties in Michigan.

Wayne County
1 BR: $1,122/mo Pop: 1,781,641
Oakland County
1 BR: $1,122/mo Pop: 1,272,264
Macomb County
1 BR: $1,122/mo Pop: 878,453
Kent County
1 BR: $1,278/mo Pop: 657,321
Genesee County
1 BR: $856/mo Pop: 405,280
Washtenaw County
1 BR: $1,387/mo Pop: 370,231
Ottawa County
1 BR: $1,333/mo Pop: 296,183
Ingham County
1 BR: $1,012/mo Pop: 282,540
View all counties in Michigan →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Montcalm County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Montcalm County is $1,016 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,203 and a studio is $829.
How does Montcalm County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Montcalm County is 6% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,016 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Montcalm County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Montcalm County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,203 ranks #975 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 Montcalm County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $40,640 ($3,387/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Montcalm County.
Is rent going up or down in Montcalm County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Montcalm County increased by 15.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $883 to $1,016.
Which jobs can afford rent in Montcalm County? ▼
Based on Michigan BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,016/mo. 10 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Montcalm County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Montcalm County went from $598 in FY 2020 to $1,016 in FY 2026, a total change of +69.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Montcalm County? ▼
In Montcalm County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,016/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 Montcalm County? ▼
For Montcalm County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,016/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.