FY 2026 HUD SAFMR Kearney -24% vs US

ZIP HUD FMR profile

68959 Minden, NE Fair Market Rent

FY 2026 HUD Small Area FMR for ZIP 68959 (Kearney County, NE). ZIP-specific schedule - not county-wide FMR, not current asking rent.

$730
1-bedroom SAFMR / mo
-24%
vs US average
$29,200
Income needed (30% rule)

Minden, NE — Kearney. Population: 4,015 (Census). FY 2026 HUD Small Area FMR.

How this rate was derived: HUD publishes Small Area Fair Market Rents at the ZIP code level for designated metros. ZIP 68959 uses the FY 2026 SAFMR for Kearney County, NE ($730 1BR). The county-wide FMR schedule for Kearney may differ; this page prefers the ZIP-specific SAFMR. Apartments may rent above or below FMR, which is HUD's 40th-percentile gross-rent estimate, not live asking rent.

The displayed HUD FMR for ZIP 68959 (Minden) is 24% below the national average and 8% below the state average. A 1-bedroom benchmark is $730/mo compared to $959 nationally. Source: HUD Small Area FMR. You need at least $29,200/year to afford a 1-bedroom at this FMR (30% rule).

What the FMR for ZIP 68959 actually means

HUD publishes Small Area Fair Market Rents at the ZIP code level for designated metros. ZIP 68959 (Minden, NE) is covered by Kearney County, NE, so FY 2026 figures here are ZIP-specific: $730 for a 1-bedroom, studio $670, 2-bedroom $960, 3-bedroom $1,150, and 4-bedroom $1,280. These are 40th-percentile gross rents (utilities except telephone), not live asking rents. Housing Choice Voucher payment standards are typically set between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR/SAFMR.

Because this page uses SAFMR, nearby ZIPs in Kearney can show different bedroom figures. Against the national benchmark the 1-bedroom SAFMR here is 24% below the US average of $959, and 8% below the NE state average of $791.

For budgeting, the 30% affordability rule says rent should not exceed 30% of gross household income. At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $730, that implies a household income of $29,200 per year (about $2,433/month) to avoid being cost-burdened, a 2-bedroom at $960 lifts that threshold higher still. ZIP 68959 has a population of 4,015 residents, so the gap between these FMR figures and local wages shapes how many households qualify as rent-burdened (paying more than 30% of income) or severely burdened (above 50%).

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $706 · US avg: $893
$670/mo
↑ 6.2% YoY -5% vs state -25% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $791 · US avg: $959
$730/mo
↑ 4.1% YoY -8% vs state -24% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,001 · US avg: $1,175
$960/mo
↑ 4.3% YoY -4% vs state -18% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,274 · US avg: $1,525
$1,150/mo
↑ 3.8% YoY -10% vs state -25% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,409 · US avg: $1,756
$1,280/mo
↑ 4.9% YoY -9% vs state -27% vs US

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$29,200
$2,433/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$38,400
$3,200/month gross

County Information

ZIP 68959 is in Kearney. HUD sets Fair Market Rents at the county level, so all ZIP codes within Kearney share the same FMR.

Nearby ZIP Codes in Kearney

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HUD Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 68959?
The FY 2026 HUD Small Area FMR for a 1-bedroom in ZIP 68959 (Minden, NE) is $730 per month. A 2-bedroom is $960 and a studio is $670. These are ZIP-level SAFMR figures from HUD for Kearney County, NE, not asking rents.
How does the FMR in 68959 compare to the national average?
The displayed 1-bedroom FMR for ZIP 68959 is 24% below the national average ($730 vs $959).
What income do I need to afford the FMR in 68959?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $29,200 to afford a 1-bedroom at the displayed HUD FMR in ZIP 68959 (Minden, NE).
What county is ZIP code 68959 in?
ZIP 68959 is in Kearney, NE. This page uses HUD's Small Area FMR for the ZIP (Kearney County, NE), which can differ from the county-wide FMR schedule.

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Data source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. ZIP-to-county mapping from U.S. Census Bureau. FMRs are set at the county or metro level; individual ZIP code rents may vary.