County FMR · HUD FY2026

St. Clair County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for St. Clair County, MI - 17% above the US average.

$1,122
1-bedroom FMR
$1,411
2-bedroom FMR
+2.9%
YoY change
+17%
vs US avg

The verdict

St. Clair is the 7th most expensive of 83 counties in Michigan by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #566 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#566
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#7
most expensive of 83 in Michigan (2BR)
+26%
vs the state average
$44,880
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (12.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (46.6%); nearby Michigan counties range as much as 62% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for St. Clair County, MI. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in St. Clair County, Michigan is $1,122 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,411/mo and a studio is $1,009/mo. This is 17% higher than the national average of $959 and 26% above the Michigan average of $891.

Rent increased2.9% from FY 2025 ($1,090), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $44,880/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.

Observed renter burden: 50.8% of the 12,963 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 Michigan. Population: 160,257. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.3%, Census ACS). That's in line with Michigan's statewide growth of +0.9% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area ST·CLAIR·COUNTY·MI·MI

St. Clair County, MI: $1,122/mo 1BR · #566 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA MI
  • 1BR-FMR $1,122
  • 2BR-FMR $1,411
  • RANK-MID #566
  • YOY-UP +2.9%
  • VSUS-ABOVE +17%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +26% MI
  • INC-ROOM 19%
  • POP-MID 160K
  • PHOTO-FINISH Wayne County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,010–$1,234
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Wayne ($0 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $807 · US avg: $893
$1,009/mo
↑ 1.8% YoY +25% vs state +13% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $891 · US avg: $959
$1,122/mo
↑ 2.9% YoY +26% vs state +17% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,113 · US avg: $1,175
$1,411/mo
↑ 2.4% YoY +27% vs state +20% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,419 · US avg: $1,525
$1,724/mo
↑ 2.1% YoY +21% vs state +13% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,588 · US avg: $1,756
$1,868/mo
↑ 2.2% YoY +18% vs state +6% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $991
$1,009
+$18 (+1.8%)
1 Bedroom $1,090
$1,122
+$32 (+2.9%)
2 Bedroom $1,378
$1,411
+$33 (+2.4%)
3 Bedroom $1,688
$1,724
+$36 (+2.1%)
4 Bedroom $1,827
$1,868
+$41 (+2.2%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
17.5%
Affordable
Need $40,360/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
19.4%
Affordable
Need $44,880/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
24.4%
Affordable
Need $56,440/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
29.8%
Affordable
Need $68,960/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
32.3%
Burdened
Need $74,720/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%24.4%
St. Clair County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $69,349 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Michigan rent burden →

Where St. Clair sits among every US county

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

$1,411 Top 18% higher than 82% 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%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). This entry sits in this band. $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 St. Clair compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Michigan counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows St. Clair is highlighted. Nearby Michigan counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Washtenaw County ($1,387), Kent County ($1,278), St. Clair County (this county) ($1,122), Wayne County ($1,122), Oakland County ($1,122), Macomb County ($1,122), Genesee County ($856).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,122/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Michigan BLS wages?

Occupation MI Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $107,820 12.5% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $99,660 13.5% Affordable
Registered Nurses $85,670 15.7% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $77,720 17.3% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $74,420 18.1% Affordable
Electricians $72,680 18.5% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $62,350 21.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $61,490 21.9% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,140 24.4% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $42,560 31.6% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $40,040 33.6% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $35,000 38.5% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $33,340 40.4% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $30,960 43.5% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,870 46.6% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Michigan) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for St. Clair (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 46.9% overall, from $764 to $1,122. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.3% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$700$800$900$1,000$1,100$1,200 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,122
St. Clair County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑2.9% $1,009 $1,122 $1,411
FY 2025 ↑7.0% $991 $1,090 $1,378
FY 2024 ↑7.0% $920 $1,019 $1,291
FY 2023 ↑12.3% $845 $952 $1,213
FY 2022 ↑3.3% $733 $848 $1,084
FY 2021 ↑7.5% $697 $821 $1,049
FY 2020 $639 $764 $977
Total change (6yr): +46.9%
Annualized: +6.6%/yr
1 BR: $764 → $1,122

Part of the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metro Area

St. Clair County is a outlying county of the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metropolitan statistical area, alongside 5 other metro-area counties.

St. Clair County ranks #6 of 6 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Livingston County ($1,264), Wayne County ($1,122), Oakland County ($1,122), Macomb County ($1,122), Lapeer County ($1,122), St. Clair County (this county) ($1,122).

Livingston County
1 BR: $1,264/mo
Wayne County
1 BR: $1,122/mo
Oakland County
1 BR: $1,122/mo
Macomb County
1 BR: $1,122/mo
Lapeer County
1 BR: $1,122/mo
St. Clair County (this county)
1 BR: $1,122/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for St. Clair County, both outside Michigan 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 MI (FY2026).

Lebanon County
PA · 2 BR $1,411/mo
Plumas County
CA · 2 BR $1,411/mo
Hood County
TX · 2 BR $1,412/mo
Talbot County
MD · 2 BR $1,409/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Dutchess County
NY · 24.4% of income · 2 BR $1,979/mo
Cape May County
NJ · 24.4% of income · 2 BR $1,792/mo
Deschutes County
OR · 24.4% of income · 2 BR $1,784/mo
Cuyahoga County
OH · 24.4% of income · 2 BR $1,279/mo

Nearby Counties in Michigan

Largest counties by population in Michigan

Showing the 8 largest of 82 other counties in Michigan.

Wayne County
1 BR: $1,122/mo Pop: 1,781,641
Oakland County
1 BR: $1,122/mo Pop: 1,272,264
Macomb County
1 BR: $1,122/mo Pop: 878,453
Kent County
1 BR: $1,278/mo Pop: 657,321
Genesee County
1 BR: $856/mo Pop: 405,280
Washtenaw County
1 BR: $1,387/mo Pop: 370,231
Ottawa County
1 BR: $1,333/mo Pop: 296,183
Ingham County
1 BR: $1,012/mo Pop: 282,540
View all counties in Michigan →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in St. Clair County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in St. Clair County is $1,122 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,411 and a studio is $1,009.
How does St. Clair County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in St. Clair County is 17% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,122 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does St. Clair County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, St. Clair County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,411 ranks #566 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in St. Clair County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $44,880 ($3,740/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in St. Clair County.
Is rent going up or down in St. Clair County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in St. Clair County increased by 2.9% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,090 to $1,122.
Which jobs can afford rent in St. Clair County? ▼
Based on Michigan BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,122/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in St. Clair County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in St. Clair County went from $764 in FY 2020 to $1,122 in FY 2026, a total change of +46.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in St. Clair County? ▼
In St. Clair County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,122/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 St. Clair County? ▼
For St. Clair County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,122/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.