County FMR · HUD FY2026

Ransom County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Ransom County, ND - 25% below the US average.

$715
1-bedroom FMR
$923
2-bedroom FMR
-0.1%
YoY change
-25%
vs US avg

The verdict

Ransom is the 24th most expensive of 53 counties in North Dakota by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #567 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.

#567
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#24
most expensive of 53 in North Dakota (2BR)
-10%
vs the state average
$28,600
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (28.6%); 15 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 Ransom County, ND. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Ransom County, North Dakota is $715 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $923/mo and a studio is $710/mo. This is 25% lower than the national average of $959 and 10% below the North Dakota average of $795.

Rent decreased0.1% from FY 2025 ($716), roughly tracking inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $28,600/year.

Observed renter burden: 31.9% of the 561 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.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in North Dakota. Population: 5,663. Population grew 5.6% 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.

FMR filing desk

Area RANSOM·COUNTY·ND·ND

Ransom County, ND: $715/mo 1BR · #567 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA ND
  • 1BR-FMR $715
  • 2BR-FMR $923
  • RANK-MID #567
  • YOY-FLAT -0.1%
  • VSUS-LOW -25%
  • VS-ST-LOW -10% ND
  • INC-ROOM 12%
  • POP-SMALL 6K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Cass County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $644–$787
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Cass ($202 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $769 · US avg: $893
$710/mo
↓ 0.1% YoY -8% vs state -20% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $795 · US avg: $959
$715/mo
↓ 0.1% YoY -10% vs state -25% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $965 · US avg: $1,175
$923/mo
↓ 0.5% YoY -4% vs state -21% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,297 · US avg: $1,525
$1,196/mo
↓ 2.4% YoY -8% vs state -22% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,588 · US avg: $1,756
$1,548/mo
↓ 0.6% YoY -3% vs state -12% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $711
$710
$-1 (-0.1%)
1 Bedroom $716
$715
$-1 (-0.1%)
2 Bedroom $928
$923
$-5 (-0.5%)
3 Bedroom $1,225
$1,196
$-29 (-2.4%)
4 Bedroom $1,558
$1,548
$-10 (-0.6%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
11.4%
Affordable
Need $28,400/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
11.5%
Affordable
Need $28,600/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
14.9%
Affordable
Need $36,920/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
19.3%
Affordable
Need $47,840/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
24.9%
Affordable
Need $61,920/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%14.9%
Ransom County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $74,521 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View North Dakota rent burden →

Where Ransom sits among every US county

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

$923 higher than 18% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Above this entry. $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 Ransom compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other North Dakota counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Ransom 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), Ransom County (this county) ($715).

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 $715/mo, most of these North Dakota occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation ND Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $98,550 8.7% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $93,290 9.2% Affordable
Registered Nurses $78,260 11% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $75,530 11.4% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $72,180 11.9% Affordable
Electricians $65,820 13% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $59,910 14.3% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $58,970 14.5% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $57,820 14.8% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $47,600 18% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $43,160 19.9% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $36,810 23.3% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $36,660 23.4% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $35,670 24.1% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $30,010 28.6% Affordable
Salaries: BLS OES (North Dakota) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Ransom (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 31.9% overall, from $542 to $715. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 9.2% (FY 2024).

$500$550$600$650$700$750 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $715
Ransom County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓0.1% $710 $715 $923
FY 2025 ↑4.4% $711 $716 $928
FY 2024 ↑9.2% $582 $686 $859
FY 2023 ↑9.2% $552 $628 $826
FY 2022 ↑3.2% $503 $575 $757
FY 2021 ↑2.8% $553 $557 $734
FY 2020 $539 $542 $714
Total change (6yr): +31.9%
Annualized: +4.7%/yr
1 BR: $542 → $715

Where Ransom County Ranks in North Dakota

Ransom 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 #30 of 53 counties in North Dakota. Nearest by rank: Sioux County ($873), Steele County ($873), Stutsman County ($873), Towner County ($873), Traill County ($873), Walsh County ($873), Wells County ($873), Ransom County (this county) ($923), Sheridan County ($924), Slope County ($924), Hettinger County ($927), Sargent County ($935), Dunn County ($938), Barnes County ($948), Rolette County ($954).

Sioux County
2 BR: $873/mo
Steele County
2 BR: $873/mo
Stutsman County
2 BR: $873/mo
Towner County
2 BR: $873/mo
Traill County
2 BR: $873/mo
Walsh County
2 BR: $873/mo
Wells County
2 BR: $873/mo
Ransom County (this county)
2 BR: $923/mo
Sheridan County
2 BR: $924/mo
Slope County
2 BR: $924/mo
Hettinger County
2 BR: $927/mo
Sargent County
2 BR: $935/mo
Dunn County
2 BR: $938/mo
Barnes County
2 BR: $948/mo
Rolette County
2 BR: $954/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Ransom County, both outside North Dakota 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 ND (FY2026).

Union County
AR · 2 BR $923/mo
Stone County
MO · 2 BR $923/mo
St. Francis County
AR · 2 BR $923/mo
Vernon County
MO · 2 BR $923/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Henry County
OH · 14.9% of income · 2 BR $982/mo
Marshall County
KS · 14.9% of income · 2 BR $877/mo
Crockett County
TX · 14.9% of income · 2 BR $1,015/mo
Bristol Bay Borough
AK · 14.8% of income · 2 BR $1,243/mo

Nearby Counties in North Dakota

Largest counties by population in North Dakota

Showing the 8 largest of 52 other counties in North Dakota.

Cass County
1 BR: $917/mo Pop: 186,328
Burleigh County
1 BR: $1,030/mo Pop: 98,443
Grand Forks County
1 BR: $868/mo Pop: 72,927
Ward County
1 BR: $960/mo Pop: 69,532
Williams County
1 BR: $1,068/mo Pop: 39,076
Morton County
1 BR: $1,030/mo Pop: 33,192
Stark County
1 BR: $874/mo Pop: 32,989
Stutsman County
1 BR: $680/mo Pop: 21,609
View all counties in North Dakota →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Ransom County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Ransom County is $715 per month. A 2-bedroom is $923 and a studio is $710.
How does Ransom County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Ransom County is 25% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $715 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Ransom County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Ransom County's 2-bedroom FMR of $923 ranks #567 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the lower-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Ransom County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $28,600 ($2,383/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Ransom County.
Is rent going up or down in Ransom County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Ransom County decreased by 0.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $716 to $715.
Which jobs can afford rent in Ransom County? ▼
Based on North Dakota BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $715/mo. 15 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Ransom County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Ransom County went from $542 in FY 2020 to $715 in FY 2026, a total change of +31.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Ransom County? ▼
In Ransom County, the FY 2026 FMR of $715/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 Ransom County? ▼
For Ransom County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($715/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.