Renting
Data from November 2026
Renting in Michigan
The typical rent in Michigan is $1,129 a month (Average 2020–2024). HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms is about $1,361 (Fiscal year 2027, population-weighted average): paying it without spending more than 30% of income takes $26.17 an hour full time. Here are the figures by size and by county, how many households spend too much, and where to ask for help.
Key numbers in Michigan
- Typical rent
- $1,129
- per month, Average 2020–2024
- 20% less than the U.S.
- Fair market rent, 2 BR
- $1,361
- HUD, Fiscal year 2027, weighted average
- From $1,014 to $1,804 depending on the county.
- Wage needed
- $26.17
- per hour, 2 bedrooms
- About $54,440 a year to stay under 30% of income.
- Burdened households
- 50%
- spend 30% or more on rent
- Nationwide, 51%.
Fair market rent
What HUD sets by size
HUD publishes a fair market rent every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they cover. Here it runs from the cheapest to the most expensive area of Michigan, with the hourly wage it takes to pay it without going past 30% of income (40 hours a week).
Includes basic utilities. It is neither the lowest nor the highest rent on the market: it is a reference point.
-
Studio
Wage: $13.58–$28.04 an hour
Lowest: $706 Highest: $1,458
-
1 bedroom
Wage: $14.90–$28.90 an hour
Lowest: $775 Highest: $1,503
-
2 bedrooms
Wage: $19.50–$34.69 an hour
Lowest: $1,014 Highest: $1,804
-
3 bedrooms
Wage: $23.23–$41.62 an hour
Lowest: $1,208 Highest: $2,164
-
4 bedrooms
Wage: $25.63–$46.48 an hour
Lowest: $1,333 Highest: $2,417
Each bar runs from the cheapest area to the most expensive; all share one scale that starts at zero. Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)
Rent burden
How many households spend too much
HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Michigan, 50% of renter households are in that position; nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).
Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.
50%
of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.
1,092,179 renter households in Michigan
- Spend half or more of their income 26%
- Spend 30% or more, but less than half 24%
- Spend less than 30% 50%
By place
Every county, with its figure
The 2-bedroom fair market rent, the typical rent, the hourly wage it takes and the share of burdened households, in every county in Michigan. Highest fair market rent first.
| Washtenaw County | $1,804 | $1,463 | $34.69 | 56% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | $1,630 | $1,243 | $31.35 | 49% |
| Ottawa County | $1,546 | $1,211 | $29.73 | 49% |
| Leelanau County | $1,500 | $1,228 | $28.85 | 40% |
| Livingston County | $1,477 | $1,287 | $28.40 | 49% |
| Oakland County | $1,459 | $1,376 | $28.06 | 45% |
| Macomb County | $1,459 | $1,211 | $28.06 | 51% |
| Wayne County | $1,459 | $1,132 | $28.06 | 54% |
| St. Clair County | $1,459 | $1,029 | $28.06 | 55% |
| Lapeer County | $1,459 | $988 | $28.06 | 51% |
| Grand Traverse County | $1,436 | $1,288 | $27.62 | 50% |
| Barry County | $1,362 | $972 | $26.19 | 45% |
| Emmet County | $1,336 | $1,112 | $25.69 | 44% |
| Clinton County | $1,323 | $1,092 | $25.44 | 44% |
| Eaton County | $1,323 | $1,092 | $25.44 | 41% |
| Ingham County | $1,323 | $1,084 | $25.44 | 53% |
| Monroe County | $1,304 | $1,059 | $25.08 | 51% |
| Allegan County | $1,296 | $1,100 | $24.92 | 46% |
| Muskegon County | $1,285 | $1,028 | $24.71 | 53% |
| Ionia County | $1,238 | $884 | $23.81 | 49% |
| Benzie County | $1,234 | $1,026 | $23.73 | 51% |
| Calhoun County | $1,233 | $968 | $23.71 | 49% |
| Midland County | $1,205 | $1,016 | $23.17 | 51% |
| Jackson County | $1,201 | $985 | $23.10 | 45% |
| Marquette County | $1,199 | $949 | $23.06 | 54% |
| Lenawee County | $1,195 | $987 | $22.98 | 47% |
| Otsego County | $1,192 | $1,008 | $22.92 | 53% |
| Montcalm County | $1,181 | $869 | $22.71 | 44% |
| Antrim County | $1,159 | $902 | $22.29 | 32% |
| Kalamazoo County | $1,158 | $1,093 | $22.27 | 52% |
| Berrien County | $1,152 | $942 | $22.15 | 50% |
| Wexford County | $1,149 | $897 | $22.10 | 52% |
| Saginaw County | $1,141 | $947 | $21.94 | 55% |
| Genesee County | $1,133 | $989 | $21.79 | 53% |
| Iron County | $1,132 | $716 | $21.77 | 48% |
| Charlevoix County | $1,119 | $949 | $21.52 | 49% |
| Cheboygan County | $1,104 | $773 | $21.23 | 41% |
| Crawford County | $1,097 | $862 | $21.10 | 45% |
| Cass County | $1,095 | $916 | $21.06 | 46% |
| Branch County | $1,093 | $959 | $21.02 | 43% |
| Shiawassee County | $1,085 | $899 | $20.87 | 47% |
| Mason County | $1,085 | $896 | $20.87 | 48% |
| Lake County | $1,069 | $875 | $20.56 | 59% |
| Manistee County | $1,067 | $842 | $20.52 | 51% |
| Alger County | $1,064 | $714 | $20.46 | 36% |
| Mecosta County | $1,063 | $934 | $20.44 | 52% |
| Isabella County | $1,059 | $913 | $20.37 | 52% |
| Mackinac County | $1,057 | $760 | $20.33 | 37% |
| Bay County | $1,055 | $860 | $20.29 | 43% |
| Osceola County | $1,048 | $807 | $20.15 | 43% |
| St. Joseph County | $1,046 | $849 | $20.12 | 39% |
| Chippewa County | $1,042 | $797 | $20.04 | 47% |
| Clare County | $1,042 | $765 | $20.04 | 49% |
| Van Buren County | $1,040 | $870 | $20.00 | 48% |
| Houghton County | $1,033 | $840 | $19.87 | 57% |
| Ogemaw County | $1,033 | $823 | $19.87 | 52% |
| Newaygo County | $1,028 | $904 | $19.77 | 45% |
| Hillsdale County | $1,022 | $832 | $19.65 | 41% |
| Gratiot County | $1,018 | $834 | $19.58 | 47% |
| Missaukee County | $1,014 | $891 | $19.50 | 50% |
| Alcona County | $1,014 | $867 | $19.50 | 52% |
| Kalkaska County | $1,014 | $853 | $19.50 | 36% |
| Tuscola County | $1,014 | $819 | $19.50 | 44% |
| Roscommon County | $1,014 | $816 | $19.50 | 48% |
| Sanilac County | $1,014 | $807 | $19.50 | 45% |
| Dickinson County | $1,014 | $797 | $19.50 | 49% |
| Huron County | $1,014 | $788 | $19.50 | 42% |
| Arenac County | $1,014 | $761 | $19.50 | 42% |
| Oceana County | $1,014 | $759 | $19.50 | 37% |
| Iosco County | $1,014 | $719 | $19.50 | 41% |
| Schoolcraft County | $1,014 | $705 | $19.50 | 49% |
| Delta County | $1,014 | $692 | $19.50 | 41% |
| Menominee County | $1,014 | $692 | $19.50 | 46% |
| Gladwin County | $1,014 | $690 | $19.50 | 46% |
| Keweenaw County | $1,014 | $688 | $19.50 | 35% |
| Montmorency County | $1,014 | $686 | $19.50 | 53% |
| Presque Isle County | $1,014 | $683 | $19.50 | 54% |
| Oscoda County | $1,014 | $681 | $19.50 | 40% |
| Luce County | $1,014 | $675 | $19.50 | 57% |
| Alpena County | $1,014 | $673 | $19.50 | 51% |
| Gogebic County | $1,014 | $623 | $19.50 | 41% |
| Baraga County | $1,014 | $616 | $19.50 | 32% |
| Ontonagon County | $1,014 | $540 | $19.50 | 39% |
- Washtenaw $1,804$34.69
- Kent $1,630$31.35
- Ottawa $1,546$29.73
- Leelanau $1,500$28.85
- Livingston $1,477$28.40
- Oakland $1,459$28.06
- Macomb $1,459$28.06
- Wayne $1,459$28.06
- St. Clair $1,459$28.06
- Lapeer $1,459$28.06
- Grand Traverse $1,436$27.62
- Barry $1,362$26.19
- Emmet $1,336$25.69
- Clinton $1,323$25.44
- Eaton $1,323$25.44
- Ingham $1,323$25.44
- Monroe $1,304$25.08
- Allegan $1,296$24.92
- Muskegon $1,285$24.71
- Ionia $1,238$23.81
- Benzie $1,234$23.73
- Calhoun $1,233$23.71
- Midland $1,205$23.17
- Jackson $1,201$23.10
- Marquette $1,199$23.06
- Lenawee $1,195$22.98
- Otsego $1,192$22.92
- Montcalm $1,181$22.71
- Antrim $1,159$22.29
- Kalamazoo $1,158$22.27
- Berrien $1,152$22.15
- Wexford $1,149$22.10
- Saginaw $1,141$21.94
- Genesee $1,133$21.79
- Iron $1,132$21.77
- Charlevoix $1,119$21.52
- Cheboygan $1,104$21.23
- Crawford $1,097$21.10
- Cass $1,095$21.06
- Branch $1,093$21.02
- Shiawassee $1,085$20.87
- Mason $1,085$20.87
- Lake $1,069$20.56
- Manistee $1,067$20.52
- Alger $1,064$20.46
- Mecosta $1,063$20.44
- Isabella $1,059$20.37
- Mackinac $1,057$20.33
- Bay $1,055$20.29
- Osceola $1,048$20.15
- St. Joseph $1,046$20.12
- Chippewa $1,042$20.04
- Clare $1,042$20.04
- Van Buren $1,040$20.00
- Houghton $1,033$19.87
- Ogemaw $1,033$19.87
- Newaygo $1,028$19.77
- Hillsdale $1,022$19.65
- Gratiot $1,018$19.58
- Missaukee $1,014$19.50
- Alcona $1,014$19.50
- Kalkaska $1,014$19.50
- Tuscola $1,014$19.50
- Roscommon $1,014$19.50
- Sanilac $1,014$19.50
- Dickinson $1,014$19.50
- Huron $1,014$19.50
- Arenac $1,014$19.50
- Oceana $1,014$19.50
- Iosco $1,014$19.50
- Schoolcraft $1,014$19.50
- Delta $1,014$19.50
- Menominee $1,014$19.50
- Gladwin $1,014$19.50
- Keweenaw $1,014$19.50
- Montmorency $1,014$19.50
- Presque Isle $1,014$19.50
- Oscoda $1,014$19.50
- Luce $1,014$19.50
- Alpena $1,014$19.50
- Gogebic $1,014$19.50
- Baraga $1,014$19.50
- Ontonagon $1,014$19.50
Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)
Your rights as a tenant in Michigan
What Michigan law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.
See your rights, rule by ruleA summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.
- How much can they charge for a deposit?
- Up to 1.5 months of rent
- MCL 554.602
- When must they return my deposit?
- 30 days
- MCL 554.609(1)
- If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
- 7 days
- MCL 554.134(2)
- Only a court order can remove youMCL 600.2918(2)
- Protection from retaliationMCL 600.5720(1)
Help
Where to ask for help with rent in Michigan
Free or official help. Demand usually exceeds funding, so waiting lists are common: ask at the agency for your county.
-
59 counseling agencies
HUD-approved; 17 serve in Spanish. They counsel renters for free.
See the agencies
Tool
How much rent can you afford?
Enter your income and compare with the fair market rent in your county.
Frequently asked questions
Which county in Michigan is the most expensive to rent in?
By 2-bedroom fair market rent (Fiscal year 2027), the most expensive is Washtenaw County ($1,804, about $34.69 an hour) and the cheapest Missaukee County ($1,014, about $19.50 an hour).
How many households in Michigan spend too much on rent?
50% of renter households in Michigan spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and 26% spend half or more (Average 2020–2024, Census). Nationwide, 51%.
What is fair market rent?
A figure HUD publishes every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they pay. It is not a market price or a cap on landlords. In Michigan, for 2 bedrooms in Fiscal year 2027, it runs from $1,014 to $1,804 depending on the county.
Where do I ask for help paying rent in Michigan?
126 public housing agencies run Section 8 vouchers and public housing in Michigan; demand usually exceeds funding and waiting lists are common. HUD-approved counseling agencies counsel for free. Your county page shows the nearest ones.