County FMR · HUD FY2026
Pierce County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Pierce County, ND - 21% below the US average.
- $755
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $873
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -9.9%
- YoY change
- -21%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Pierce is the 20th cheapest of 53 counties in North Dakota by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has fallen 9.9% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #20
- cheapest of 53 in North Dakota (2BR)
- -5%
- vs the state average
- $30,200
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- -9.9%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (30.2%); 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 Pierce County, ND. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Pierce County, North Dakota is $755 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $873/mo and a studio is $727/mo. This is 21% lower than the national average of $959 and 5% below the North Dakota average of $795.
Rent decreased9.9% from FY 2025 ($838), declining against the trend. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $30,200/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in North Dakota. Population: 3,999. Population declined 5.9% 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 Pierce County
The Pierce 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 21% below the US average of $959 and 5% lower than the North Dakota state average of $795. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$838 in FY 2025 to $755 in FY 2026 - a change of -9.9%, which is unusual and suggests softening demand or revised HUD sampling.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $755, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $30,200 per year (about $2,517/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $873 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 3,999 and a county median household income of $63,214, 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 | $807 | $727 | $-80 (-9.9%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $838 | $755 | $-83 (-9.9%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $928 | $873 | $-55 (-5.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,226 | $1,214 | $-12 (-1.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,289 | $1,464 | +$175 (+13.6%) |
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 Pierce 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.
Pierce County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Pierce sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$873 higher than 6% 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 Pierce 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
- Pierce
Pierce County
$755 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Pierce 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), Pierce County (this county) ($755).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $755/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 | 9.2% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $93,290 | 9.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $78,260 | 11.6% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $75,530 | 12% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $72,180 | 12.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $65,820 | 13.8% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $59,910 | 15.1% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,970 | 15.4% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $57,820 | 15.7% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $47,600 | 19% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,160 | 21% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,810 | 24.6% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,660 | 24.7% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,670 | 25.4% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $30,010 | 30.2% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Pierce County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Pierce (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 39.3% overall, from $542 to $755. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 19.2% (FY 2022), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓9.9% | $727 | $755 | $873 |
| FY 2025 ↑9.5% | $807 | $838 | $928 |
| FY 2024 ↑4.7% | $745 | $765 | $859 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.1% | $715 | $731 | $826 |
| FY 2022 ↑19.2% | $653 | $664 | $757 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.8% | $553 | $557 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $539 | $542 | $714 |
Where Pierce County Ranks in North Dakota
Pierce 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 #20 of 53 counties in North Dakota. Nearest by rank: Griggs County ($873), Kidder County ($873), LaMoure County ($873), McIntosh County ($873), McLean County ($873), Nelson County ($873), Pembina County ($873), Pierce County (this county) ($873), Ramsey County ($873), Richland County ($873), Sioux County ($873), Steele County ($873), Stutsman County ($873), Towner County ($873), Traill County ($873).
Nearby Counties in North Dakota
Largest counties by population in North Dakota
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Pierce County? ▼
How does Pierce County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Pierce County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Pierce County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Pierce County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Pierce County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Pierce County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Pierce County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Pierce'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 $755 implies about $30,200/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 Pierce 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.