County FMR · HUD FY2026
Pennington County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Pennington County, MN - 11% below the US average.
- $855
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,122
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +3.9%
- YoY change
- -11%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Pennington is the 26th most expensive of 87 counties in Minnesota by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,227 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #1,227
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #26
- most expensive of 87 in Minnesota (2BR)
- -5%
- vs the state average
- $34,200
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (32.1%); 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 Pennington County, MN. Verify with HUD →
Pennington County, Minnesota carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $855 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,122/mo and a studio is $774/mo. That's 11% below the national benchmark of $959 and 5% below the Minnesota average of $899.
Rent increased3.9% from FY 2025 ($823), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $34,200/year for a 1-bedroom.
Observed renter burden: 35.5% of the 1,768 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.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 3.7%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 6.0% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Minnesota. Population: 13,995. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.2%, Census ACS). That's slower than Minnesota's statewide growth of +3.4% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area PENNINGTON·COUNTY·MN·MN
Pennington County, MN: $855/mo 1BR · #1227 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA MN
- 1BR-FMR $855
- 2BR-FMR $1,122
- RANK-MID #1,227
- YOY-UP +3.9%
- VSUS-BELOW -11%
- VS-ST-NEAR -5% MN
- INC-ROOM 14%
- POP-SMALL 14K
- PHOTO-NEAR Hennepin County
- VOUCH-90-110 $770–$941
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Hennepin ($550 1BR gap)
Read with: How Fair Market Rent works
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $741 | $774 | +$33 (+4.5%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $823 | $855 | +$32 (+3.9%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,080 | $1,122 | +$42 (+3.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,371 | $1,496 | +$125 (+9.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,559 | $1,631 | +$72 (+4.6%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Pennington 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.
Where Pennington sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,122 Top 39% higher than 61% 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 Pennington compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Minnesota counties
- Hennepin
Hennepin County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Ramsey
Ramsey County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Dakota
Dakota County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Anoka
Anoka County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- Washington
Washington County
$1,405 1BR FMR / mo
- St. Louis
St. Louis County
$978 1BR FMR / mo
- Pennington
Pennington County
$855 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Pennington 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), Pennington County (this county) ($855).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $855/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 | 8.2% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $100,870 | 10.2% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $96,130 | 10.7% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $83,310 | 12.3% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $81,430 | 12.6% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $81,100 | 12.7% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $67,320 | 15.2% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $63,120 | 16.3% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $61,090 | 16.8% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $48,560 | 21.1% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $47,470 | 21.6% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $38,320 | 26.8% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $38,160 | 26.9% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,310 | 29.1% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $31,950 | 32.1% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Pennington County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Pennington (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 48.2% overall, from $577 to $855. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +17.2% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑3.9% | $774 | $855 | $1,122 |
| FY 2025 ↓1.7% | $741 | $823 | $1,080 |
| FY 2024 ↑17.2% | $746 | $837 | $1,100 |
| FY 2023 ↑15.0% | $629 | $714 | $940 |
| FY 2022 ↑11.5% | $543 | $621 | $817 |
| FY 2021 ↓3.5% | $484 | $557 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $495 | $577 | $760 |
Where Pennington County Ranks in Minnesota
Pennington 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 #62 of 87 counties in Minnesota. Nearest by rank: Winona County ($1,066), Itasca County ($1,074), Le Sueur County ($1,078), Polk County ($1,089), Goodhue County ($1,095), Pine County ($1,101), Clay County ($1,112), Crow Wing County ($1,120), Pennington County (this county) ($1,122), Mille Lacs County ($1,123), Beltrami County ($1,135), Steele County ($1,142), Houston County ($1,166), Blue Earth County ($1,171), Nicollet County ($1,171), Rice County ($1,187), Benton County ($1,206).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Pennington County, both outside Minnesota 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 MN (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MN).
Nearby Counties in Minnesota
Largest counties by population in Minnesota
Showing the 8 largest of 86 other counties in Minnesota.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Pennington County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Pennington County is $855 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,122 and a studio is $774.
How does Pennington County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Pennington County is 11% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $855 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Pennington County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Pennington County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,122 ranks #1,227 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 Pennington County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $34,200 ($2,850/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Pennington County.
Is rent going up or down in Pennington County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Pennington County increased by 3.9% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $823 to $855.
Which jobs can afford rent in Pennington 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 $855/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Pennington County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Pennington County went from $577 in FY 2020 to $855 in FY 2026, a total change of +48.2% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Pennington County?
In Pennington County, the FY 2026 FMR of $855/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 Pennington County?
For Pennington County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($855/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Pennington County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 3.7%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
What is the unemployment rate in Pennington County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 6.0% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Pennington's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $855 implies about $34,200/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Minnesota counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Hennepin
- See where Pennington ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.