County FMR · HUD FY2026

Portage County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Portage County, WI - 17% below the US average.

$794
1-bedroom FMR
$1,037
2-bedroom FMR
+0.0%
YoY change
-17%
vs US avg

The verdict

Portage is the 33rd most expensive of 72 counties in Wisconsin by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,541 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#1,541
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#33
most expensive of 72 in Wisconsin (2BR)
-9%
vs the state average
$31,760
income to afford it (30% rule)

General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (33.4%); 14 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby Wisconsin counties range as much as 59% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Portage County, WI. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Portage County, Wisconsin is $794 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,037/mo and a studio is $715/mo. This is 17% lower than the national average of $959 and 9% below the Wisconsin average of $872.

Rent increased0.0% from FY 2025 ($794), roughly tracking inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $31,760/year.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Wisconsin. Population: 70,281. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.3%, Census ACS). That's slower than Wisconsin's statewide growth of +2.0% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area PORTAGE·COUNTY·WI·WI

Portage County, WI: $794/mo 1BR · #1541 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA WI
  • 1BR-FMR $794
  • 2BR-FMR $1,037
  • RANK-MID #1,541
  • YOY-FLAT +0.0%
  • VSUS-BELOW -17%
  • VS-ST-LOW -9% WI
  • INC-ROOM 13%
  • POP-MID 70K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Milwaukee County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $715–$873
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Milwaukee ($325 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $797 · US avg: $893
$715/mo
↑ 1.3% YoY -10% vs state -20% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $872 · US avg: $959
$794/mo
↑ 0.0% YoY -9% vs state -17% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,097 · US avg: $1,175
$1,037/mo
↑ 0.8% YoY -5% vs state -12% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,405 · US avg: $1,525
$1,243/mo
↑ 0.2% YoY -12% vs state -18% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,572 · US avg: $1,756
$1,373/mo
↓ 1.1% YoY -13% vs state -22% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $706
$715
+$9 (+1.3%)
1 Bedroom $794
$794
$0 (0.0%)
2 Bedroom $1,029
$1,037
+$8 (+0.8%)
3 Bedroom $1,240
$1,243
+$3 (+0.2%)
4 Bedroom $1,388
$1,373
$-15 (-1.1%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
11.7%
Affordable
Need $28,600/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
13%
Affordable
Need $31,760/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
17%
Affordable
Need $41,480/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
20.4%
Affordable
Need $49,720/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
22.5%
Affordable
Need $54,920/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%17%
Portage County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $73,284 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Wisconsin rent burden →

Where Portage sits among every US county

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

$1,037 higher than 51% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $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 Portage compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Wisconsin counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Portage is highlighted. Nearby Wisconsin counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Dane County ($1,482), Milwaukee County ($1,119), Waukesha County ($1,119), Racine County ($988), Outagamie County ($960), Brown County ($931), Portage County (this county) ($794).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $794/mo, most of these Wisconsin occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation WI Salary Rent Burden Verdict
General & Operations Managers $113,170 8.4% Affordable
Software Developers $103,360 9.2% Affordable
Registered Nurses $86,070 11.1% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $78,980 12.1% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $78,150 12.2% Affordable
Electricians $75,090 12.7% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $60,690 15.7% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $57,380 16.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $56,520 16.9% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $45,980 20.7% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $43,620 21.8% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $36,050 26.4% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $35,850 26.6% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $33,640 28.3% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,500 33.4% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Wisconsin) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Portage (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 26.6% overall, from $627 to $794. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 8.4% (FY 2024).

$600$650$700$750$800$850 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $794
Portage County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑0.0% $715 $794 $1,037
FY 2025 ↑4.2% $706 $794 $1,029
FY 2024 ↑8.4% $662 $762 $977
FY 2023 ↑7.5% $604 $703 $904
FY 2022 ↑6.0% $569 $654 $844
FY 2021 ↓1.6% $566 $617 $782
FY 2020 $610 $627 $784
Total change (6yr): +26.6%
Annualized: +4.0%/yr
1 BR: $627 → $794

Part of the Stevens Point-Plover, WI Micro Area

Portage County is a central county of the Stevens Point-Plover, WI micropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Portage County, both outside Wisconsin 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 WI (FY2026).

Ashtabula County
OH · 2 BR $1,037/mo
Williamson County
IL · 2 BR $1,037/mo
Milam County
TX · 2 BR $1,037/mo
Gray County
TX · 2 BR $1,037/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Moniteau County
MO · 17% of income · 2 BR $922/mo
Brookings County
SD · 17% of income · 2 BR $953/mo
Hardin County
IA · 17% of income · 2 BR $919/mo
Tipton County
IN · 17% of income · 2 BR $1,109/mo

Nearby Counties in Wisconsin

Largest counties by population in Wisconsin

Showing the 8 largest of 71 other counties in Wisconsin.

Milwaukee County
1 BR: $1,119/mo Pop: 933,063
Dane County
1 BR: $1,482/mo Pop: 559,891
Waukesha County
1 BR: $1,119/mo Pop: 407,290
Brown County
1 BR: $931/mo Pop: 268,393
Racine County
1 BR: $988/mo Pop: 197,068
Outagamie County
1 BR: $960/mo Pop: 190,611
Winnebago County
1 BR: $889/mo Pop: 171,197
Kenosha County
1 BR: $1,092/mo Pop: 168,693
View all counties in Wisconsin →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Portage County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Portage County is $794 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,037 and a studio is $715.
How does Portage County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Portage County is 17% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $794 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Portage County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Portage County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,037 ranks #1,541 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 Portage County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $31,760 ($2,647/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Portage County.
Is rent going up or down in Portage County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Portage County increased by 0.0% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $794 to $794.
Which jobs can afford rent in Portage County? ▼
Based on Wisconsin BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like General and Operations Managers, Software Developers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $794/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Portage County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Portage County went from $627 in FY 2020 to $794 in FY 2026, a total change of +26.6% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Portage County? ▼
In Portage County, the FY 2026 FMR of $794/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 Portage County? ▼
For Portage County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($794/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.