County FMR · HUD FY2026
Morton County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Morton County, ND - 7% above the US average.
- $1,030
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,175
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +12.3%
- YoY change
- +7%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Morton is the 5th most expensive of 53 counties in North Dakota by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 12.3% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #5
- most expensive of 53 in North Dakota (2BR)
- +30%
- vs the state average
- $41,200
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +12.3%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (12.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (41.2%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Morton County, ND. Verify with HUD →
Morton County, North Dakota carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,030 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,175/mo and a studio is $961/mo. That's 7% above the national benchmark of $959 and 30% above the North Dakota average of $795.
Rent increased12.3% from FY 2025 ($917), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $41,200/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in North Dakota. Population: 33,192. Population grew 9.6% 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 North Dakota's statewide growth of +3.6% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Morton County
The Morton County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and North Dakota'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 7% above the US average of $959 and 30% higher than the North Dakota state average of $795. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$917 in FY 2025 to $1,030 in FY 2026 - a change of +12.3%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,030, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $41,200 per year (about $3,433/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,175 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 33,192 and a county median household income of $79,483, 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 | $828 | $961 | +$133 (+16.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $917 | $1,030 | +$113 (+12.3%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,023 | $1,175 | +$152 (+14.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,433 | $1,634 | +$201 (+14.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,718 | $1,884 | +$166 (+9.7%) |
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 Morton 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.
Morton County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Morton sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,175 Top 34% higher than 66% 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 Morton compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other North Dakota counties
- Williams
Williams County
$1,068 1BR FMR / mo
- Morton
Morton County
$1,030 1BR FMR / mo
- Burleigh
Burleigh County
$1,030 1BR FMR / mo
- Ward
Ward County
$960 1BR FMR / mo
- Cass
Cass County
$917 1BR FMR / mo
- Stark
Stark County
$874 1BR FMR / mo
- Grand Forks
Grand Forks County
$868 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Morton is highlighted. Nearby North Dakota counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Williams County ($1,068), Morton County (this county) ($1,030), Burleigh County ($1,030), Ward County ($960), Cass County ($917), Stark County ($874), Grand Forks County ($868).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,030/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 | 12.5% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $93,290 | 13.2% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $78,260 | 15.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $75,530 | 16.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $72,180 | 17.1% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $65,820 | 18.8% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $59,910 | 20.6% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,970 | 21% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $57,820 | 21.4% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $47,600 | 26% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,160 | 28.6% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,810 | 33.6% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,660 | 33.7% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,670 | 34.7% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $30,010 | 41.2% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Morton County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Morton (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 47.6% overall, from $698 to $1,030. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.3% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑12.3% | $961 | $1,030 | $1,175 |
| FY 2025 ↑8.1% | $828 | $917 | $1,023 |
| FY 2024 ↑4.2% | $764 | $848 | $955 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.4% | $719 | $814 | $928 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.5% | $733 | $737 | $880 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.0% | $715 | $719 | $884 |
| FY 2020 | $694 | $698 | $892 |
Part of the Bismarck, ND Metro Area
Morton County is a central county of the Bismarck, ND metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Morton County ranks #3 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Burleigh County ($1,030), Oliver County ($1,030), Morton County (this county) ($1,030).
Nearby Counties in North Dakota
Largest counties by population in North Dakota
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Morton County? ▼
How does Morton County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Morton County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Morton County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Morton County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Morton County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Morton County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Morton County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Morton'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 $1,030 implies about $41,200/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 Morton 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.