County FMR · HUD FY2026

Wadena County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Wadena County, MN - 18% below the US average.

$783
1-bedroom FMR
$1,016
2-bedroom FMR
+6.1%
YoY change
-18%
vs US avg

The verdict

Wadena is the 40th most expensive of 87 counties in Minnesota by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,511 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 6.1% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#1,511
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#40
most expensive of 87 in Minnesota (2BR)
-13%
vs the state average
$31,320
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (7.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (29.4%); 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 Wadena County, MN. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Wadena County, Minnesota is $783 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,016/mo and a studio is $701/mo. This is 18% lower than the national average of $959 and 13% below the Minnesota average of $899.

Rent increased6.1% from FY 2025 ($738), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $31,320/year.

Observed renter burden: 37.3% of the 1,619 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 Minnesota. Population: 14,108. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.6%, Census ACS). That's in line with Minnesota's statewide growth of +3.4% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area WADENA·COUNTY·MN·MN

Wadena County, MN: $783/mo 1BR · #1511 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA MN
  • 1BR-FMR $783
  • 2BR-FMR $1,016
  • RANK-MID #1,511
  • YOY-SURGE +6.1%
  • VSUS-BELOW -18%
  • VS-ST-LOW -13% MN
  • INC-ROOM 17%
  • POP-SMALL 14K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Hennepin County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $705–$861
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Hennepin ($622 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $809 · US avg: $893
$701/mo
↑ 9.0% YoY -13% vs state -22% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $899 · US avg: $959
$783/mo
↑ 6.1% YoY -13% vs state -18% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,125 · US avg: $1,175
$1,016/mo
↑ 8.4% YoY -10% vs state -14% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,483 · US avg: $1,525
$1,218/mo
↑ 7.9% YoY -18% vs state -20% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,698 · US avg: $1,756
$1,345/mo
↑ 8.3% YoY -21% vs state -23% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $643
$701
+$58 (+9.0%)
1 Bedroom $738
$783
+$45 (+6.1%)
2 Bedroom $937
$1,016
+$79 (+8.4%)
3 Bedroom $1,129
$1,218
+$89 (+7.9%)
4 Bedroom $1,242
$1,345
+$103 (+8.3%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
14.8%
Affordable
Need $28,040/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
16.5%
Affordable
Need $31,320/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
21.4%
Affordable
Need $40,640/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
25.7%
Affordable
Need $48,720/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
28.4%
Affordable
Need $53,800/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%21.4%
Wadena County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $56,882 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Minnesota rent burden →

Where Wadena sits among every US county

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

$1,016 higher than 48% 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 Wadena compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Minnesota counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Wadena 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), Wadena County (this county) ($783).

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 $783/mo, most of these Minnesota occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation MN Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $124,540 7.5% Affordable
Registered Nurses $100,870 9.3% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $96,130 9.8% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $83,310 11.3% Affordable
Electricians $81,430 11.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $81,100 11.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $67,320 14% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $63,120 14.9% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $61,090 15.4% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $48,560 19.3% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $47,470 19.8% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $38,320 24.5% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $38,160 24.6% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $35,310 26.6% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $31,950 29.4% Affordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Minnesota) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Wadena (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 39.8% overall, from $560 to $783. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.2% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$500$550$600$650$700$750$800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $783
Wadena County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑6.1% $701 $783 $1,016
FY 2025 ↓2.4% $643 $738 $937
FY 2024 ↑5.4% $660 $756 $974
FY 2023 ↑12.2% $560 $717 $837
FY 2022 ↑3.1% $503 $639 $757
FY 2021 ↑10.7% $484 $620 $734
FY 2020 $471 $560 $714
Total change (6yr): +39.8%
Annualized: +5.7%/yr
1 BR: $560 → $783

Where Wadena County Ranks in Minnesota

Wadena 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 #48 of 87 counties in Minnesota. Nearest by rank: Otter Tail County ($983), Douglas County ($991), Stevens County ($991), Meeker County ($997), McLeod County ($999), Wabasha County ($1,001), Hubbard County ($1,008), Lake of the Woods County ($1,014), Wadena County (this county) ($1,016), Fillmore County ($1,022), Becker County ($1,027), Mower County ($1,049), Nobles County ($1,049), Pope County ($1,053), Winona County ($1,066), Itasca County ($1,074), Le Sueur County ($1,078).

Otter Tail County
2 BR: $983/mo
Douglas County
2 BR: $991/mo
Stevens County
2 BR: $991/mo
Meeker County
2 BR: $997/mo
McLeod County
2 BR: $999/mo
Wabasha County
2 BR: $1,001/mo
Hubbard County
2 BR: $1,008/mo
Lake of the Woods County
2 BR: $1,014/mo
Wadena County (this county)
2 BR: $1,016/mo
Fillmore County
2 BR: $1,022/mo
Becker County
2 BR: $1,027/mo
Mower County
2 BR: $1,049/mo
Nobles County
2 BR: $1,049/mo
Pope County
2 BR: $1,053/mo
Winona County
2 BR: $1,066/mo
Itasca County
2 BR: $1,074/mo
Le Sueur County
2 BR: $1,078/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Wadena County, both outside Minnesota 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 MN (FY2026).

Montgomery County
AL · 2 BR $1,016/mo
Elmore County
AL · 2 BR $1,016/mo
Van Buren County
MI · 2 BR $1,016/mo
Autauga County
AL · 2 BR $1,016/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Powell County
MT · 21.4% of income · 2 BR $1,133/mo
Vernon Parish
LA · 21.4% of income · 2 BR $1,041/mo
Vermilion County
IL · 21.4% of income · 2 BR $974/mo
Jasper County
MS · 21.4% of income · 2 BR $842/mo

Nearby Counties in Minnesota

Largest counties by population in Minnesota

Showing the 8 largest of 86 other counties in Minnesota.

Hennepin County
1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 1,270,787
Ramsey County
1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 547,202
Dakota County
1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 439,179
Anoka County
1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 363,985
Washington County
1 BR: $1,405/mo Pop: 268,651
St. Louis County
1 BR: $978/mo Pop: 200,122
Olmsted County
1 BR: $1,189/mo Pop: 162,307
Stearns County
1 BR: $919/mo Pop: 158,622
View all counties in Minnesota →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Wadena County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Wadena County is $783 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,016 and a studio is $701.
How does Wadena County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Wadena County is 18% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $783 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Wadena County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Wadena County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,016 ranks #1,511 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Wadena County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $31,320 ($2,610/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Wadena County.
Is rent going up or down in Wadena County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Wadena County increased by 6.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $738 to $783.
Which jobs can afford rent in Wadena County? ▼
Based on Minnesota BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $783/mo. 15 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Wadena County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Wadena County went from $560 in FY 2020 to $783 in FY 2026, a total change of +39.8% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Wadena County? ▼
In Wadena County, the FY 2026 FMR of $783/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 Wadena County? ▼
For Wadena County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($783/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.