County FMR · HUD FY2026
Stearns County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Stearns County, MN - 4% below the US average.
- $919
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,206
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +4.1%
- YoY change
- -4%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Stearns is the 17th most expensive of 87 counties in Minnesota by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #17
- most expensive of 87 in Minnesota (2BR)
- +2%
- vs the state average
- $36,760
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +4.1%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (34.5%); 13 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 Stearns County, MN. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Stearns County, Minnesota at $919 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,206/mo and a studio is $874/mo. This is 4% lower than the national average of $959 and 2% above the Minnesota average of $899.
Rent increased4.1% from FY 2025 ($883), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $36,760/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Minnesota. Population: 158,622. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.6%, Census ACS). That's slower than Minnesota's statewide growth of +3.4% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Stearns County
The Stearns County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Minnesota'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.
Stearns County's 1-bedroom rent runs 4% below the US average of $959 and 2% higher than the Minnesota state average of $899. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$883 in FY 2025 to $919 in FY 2026 - a change of +4.1%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $919, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $36,760 per year (about $3,063/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,206 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 158,622 and a county median household income of $76,447, 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 | $856 | $874 | +$18 (+2.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $883 | $919 | +$36 (+4.1%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,151 | $1,206 | +$55 (+4.8%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,510 | $1,604 | +$94 (+6.2%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,798 | $1,873 | +$75 (+4.2%) |
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 Stearns 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.
Stearns County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Stearns sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,206 Top 31% higher than 69% 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 Stearns 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
- Stearns
Stearns County
$919 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Stearns 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), Stearns County (this county) ($919).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $919/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 | 8.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $100,870 | 10.9% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $96,130 | 11.5% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $83,310 | 13.2% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $81,430 | 13.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $81,100 | 13.6% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $67,320 | 16.4% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $63,120 | 17.5% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $61,090 | 18.1% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $48,560 | 22.7% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $47,470 | 23.2% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $38,320 | 28.8% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $38,160 | 28.9% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,310 | 31.2% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $31,950 | 34.5% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Stearns County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Stearns (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 39.9% overall, from $657 to $919. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.0% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑4.1% | $874 | $919 | $1,206 |
| FY 2025 ↓2.5% | $856 | $883 | $1,151 |
| FY 2024 ↑16.0% | $877 | $906 | $1,155 |
| FY 2023 ↑8.2% | $754 | $781 | $972 |
| FY 2022 ↑7.6% | $688 | $722 | $886 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.1% | $634 | $671 | $821 |
| FY 2020 | $605 | $657 | $804 |
Part of the St. Cloud, MN Metro Area
Stearns County is a central county of the St. Cloud, MN metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.
Stearns County ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Benton County ($919), Stearns County (this county) ($919).
Nearby Counties in Minnesota
Largest counties by population in Minnesota
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Stearns County? ▼
How does Stearns County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Stearns County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Stearns County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Stearns County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Stearns County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Stearns County? ▼
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What this means for renters
Treat Stearns'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 $919 implies about $36,760/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 Stearns 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.