County FMR · HUD FY2026
Ward County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Ward County, ND - 0% above the US average.
- $960
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,165
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +18.8%
- YoY change
- +0%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Ward is the 7th most expensive of 53 counties in North Dakota by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 18.8% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #7
- most expensive of 53 in North Dakota (2BR)
- +21%
- vs the state average
- $38,400
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +18.8%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (38.4%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Ward County, ND. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Ward County, North Dakota at $960 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,165/mo and a studio is $806/mo. This is 0% higher than the national average of $959 and 21% above the North Dakota average of $795.
Rent increased18.8% from FY 2025 ($808), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $38,400/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in North Dakota. Population: 69,532. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.3%, Census ACS). That's slower than North Dakota's statewide growth of +3.6% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Ward County
The Ward County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and North Dakota'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.
Ward County's 1-bedroom rent runs 0% above the US average of $959 and 21% higher than the North Dakota state average of $795. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$808 in FY 2025 to $960 in FY 2026 - a change of +18.8%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $960, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $38,400 per year (about $3,200/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,165 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 69,532 and a county median household income of $79,273, 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 | $721 | $806 | +$85 (+11.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $808 | $960 | +$152 (+18.8%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,040 | $1,165 | +$125 (+12.0%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,457 | $1,620 | +$163 (+11.2%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,746 | $1,954 | +$208 (+11.9%) |
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 Ward 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.
Ward County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Ward sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,165 Top 35% higher than 65% 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 Ward compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other North Dakota counties
- Williams
Williams County
$1,068 1BR FMR / mo
- Burleigh
Burleigh County
$1,030 1BR FMR / mo
- Morton
Morton County
$1,030 1BR FMR / mo
- Ward
Ward County
$960 1BR FMR / mo
- Cass
Cass County
$917 1BR FMR / mo
- Stark
Stark County
$874 1BR FMR / mo
- Grand Forks
Grand Forks County
$868 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Ward 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 (this county) ($960), Cass County ($917), Stark County ($874), Grand Forks County ($868).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $960/mo compares to North Dakota salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | ND Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $98,550 | 11.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $93,290 | 12.3% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $78,260 | 14.7% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $75,530 | 15.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $72,180 | 16% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $65,820 | 17.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $59,910 | 19.2% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,970 | 19.5% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $57,820 | 19.9% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $47,600 | 24.2% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,160 | 26.7% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $36,810 | 31.3% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $36,660 | 31.4% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,670 | 32.3% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $30,010 | 38.4% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Ward County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Ward (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 28.5% overall, from $747 to $960. Rent fell in 3 of the last 6 tracked years, including a 18.8% drop in FY 2026 - an unusual multi-year softening rather than the steady increases seen in most US counties.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑18.8% | $806 | $960 | $1,165 |
| FY 2025 ↑8.6% | $721 | $808 | $1,040 |
| FY 2024 ↓2.5% | $681 | $744 | $978 |
| FY 2023 ↑4.0% | $685 | $763 | $1,005 |
| FY 2022 ↓0.7% | $657 | $734 | $966 |
| FY 2021 ↓1.1% | $629 | $739 | $953 |
| FY 2020 | $629 | $747 | $972 |
Part of the Minot, ND Metro Area
Ward County is a central county of the Minot, ND metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Ward County ranks #1 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Ward County (this county) ($960), McHenry County ($839), Renville County ($824).
Nearby Counties in North Dakota
Largest counties by population in North Dakota
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Ward County? ▼
How does Ward County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Ward County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Ward County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Ward County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Ward County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Ward County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Ward County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Ward'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 $960 implies about $38,400/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 Ward 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.