County FMR · HUD FY2026
Mountrail County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Mountrail County, ND - 11% below the US average.
- $850
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,071
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +0.8%
- YoY change
- -11%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Mountrail is the 12th most expensive of 53 counties in North Dakota by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #12
- most expensive of 53 in North Dakota (2BR)
- +7%
- vs the state average
- $34,000
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +0.8%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (34%); 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 Mountrail County, ND. Verify with HUD →
Mountrail County, North Dakota carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $850 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,071/mo and a studio is $738/mo. That's 11% below the national benchmark of $959 and 7% above the North Dakota average of $795.
Rent increased0.8% from FY 2025 ($843), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $34,000/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in North Dakota. Population: 9,648. Population declined 5.8% 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 North Dakota's statewide growth of +3.6% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Mountrail County
The Mountrail 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 11% below the US average of $959 and 7% higher than the North Dakota state average of $795. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$843 in FY 2025 to $850 in FY 2026 - a change of +0.8%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $850, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $34,000 per year (about $2,833/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,071 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 9,648 and a county median household income of $81,292, 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 | $700 | $738 | +$38 (+5.4%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $843 | $850 | +$7 (+0.8%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $933 | $1,071 | +$138 (+14.8%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,307 | $1,386 | +$79 (+6.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,482 | $1,505 | +$23 (+1.6%) |
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 Mountrail 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.
Mountrail County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Mountrail sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,071 higher than 55% 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 Mountrail 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
- Mountrail
Mountrail County
$850 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Mountrail 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), Mountrail County (this county) ($850).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $850/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 | 10.4% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $93,290 | 10.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $78,260 | 13% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $75,530 | 13.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $72,180 | 14.1% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $65,820 | 15.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $59,910 | 17% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,970 | 17.3% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $57,820 | 17.6% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $47,600 | 21.4% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,160 | 23.6% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,810 | 27.7% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,660 | 27.8% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,670 | 28.6% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $30,010 | 34% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Mountrail County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Mountrail (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 25.4% overall, from $678 to $850. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.2% (FY 2025).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑0.8% | $738 | $850 | $1,071 |
| FY 2025 ↑10.2% | $700 | $843 | $933 |
| FY 2024 ↑3.9% | $734 | $765 | $859 |
| FY 2023 ↑7.4% | $720 | $736 | $831 |
| FY 2022 ↑1.8% | $668 | $685 | $780 |
| FY 2021 ↓0.7% | $649 | $673 | $767 |
| FY 2020 | $621 | $678 | $829 |
Where Mountrail County Ranks in North Dakota
Mountrail County is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #42 of 53 counties in North Dakota. Nearest by rank: Dunn County ($938), Barnes County ($948), Rolette County ($954), McHenry County ($1,000), Logan County ($1,014), Golden Valley County ($1,027), Stark County ($1,056), Mountrail County (this county) ($1,071), Renville County ($1,081), Grand Forks County ($1,089), Cass County ($1,112), Mercer County ($1,156), Ward County ($1,165), Burleigh County ($1,175), Morton County ($1,175).
Nearby Counties in North Dakota
Largest counties by population in North Dakota
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Mountrail County? ▼
How does Mountrail County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Mountrail County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Mountrail County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Mountrail County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Mountrail County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Mountrail County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Mountrail County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Mountrail'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 $850 implies about $34,000/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 Mountrail 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.