Renting
Data from November 2026
Renting in Minnesota
The typical rent in Minnesota is $1,280 a month (Average 2020–2024). HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms is about $1,507 (Fiscal year 2027, population-weighted average): paying it without spending more than 30% of income takes $28.98 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 Minnesota
- Typical rent
- $1,280
- per month, Average 2020–2024
- 9% less than the U.S.
- Fair market rent, 2 BR
- $1,507
- HUD, Fiscal year 2027, weighted average
- From $1,014 to $1,734 depending on the county.
- Wage needed
- $28.98
- per hour, 2 bedrooms
- About $60,280 a year to stay under 30% of income.
- Burdened households
- 48%
- 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 Minnesota, 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–$24.33 an hour
Lowest: $706 Highest: $1,265
-
1 bedroom
Wage: $14.90–$27.44 an hour
Lowest: $775 Highest: $1,427
-
2 bedrooms
Wage: $19.50–$33.35 an hour
Lowest: $1,014 Highest: $1,734
-
3 bedrooms
Wage: $23.23–$43.54 an hour
Lowest: $1,208 Highest: $2,264
-
4 bedrooms
Wage: $25.63–$48.81 an hour
Lowest: $1,333 Highest: $2,538
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 Minnesota, 48% 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.
48%
of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.
641,268 renter households in Minnesota
- Spend half or more of their income 24%
- Spend 30% or more, but less than half 25%
- Spend less than 30% 52%
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 Minnesota. Highest fair market rent first.
| Washington County | $1,734 | $1,710 | $33.35 | 51% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott County | $1,734 | $1,568 | $33.35 | 52% |
| Dakota County | $1,734 | $1,548 | $33.35 | 50% |
| Carver County | $1,734 | $1,514 | $33.35 | 43% |
| Hennepin County | $1,734 | $1,487 | $33.35 | 48% |
| Anoka County | $1,734 | $1,464 | $33.35 | 51% |
| Ramsey County | $1,734 | $1,329 | $33.35 | 51% |
| Wright County | $1,734 | $1,288 | $33.35 | 41% |
| Isanti County | $1,734 | $1,273 | $33.35 | 50% |
| Chisago County | $1,734 | $1,186 | $33.35 | 52% |
| Sherburne County | $1,734 | $1,127 | $33.35 | 46% |
| Olmsted County | $1,422 | $1,370 | $27.35 | 48% |
| Dodge County | $1,422 | $1,020 | $27.35 | 42% |
| Lake County | $1,358 | $1,093 | $26.12 | 45% |
| Houston County | $1,343 | $879 | $25.83 | 49% |
| Steele County | $1,244 | $1,061 | $23.92 | 61% |
| Stearns County | $1,233 | $1,068 | $23.71 | 50% |
| Benton County | $1,233 | $982 | $23.71 | 40% |
| Blue Earth County | $1,230 | $1,123 | $23.65 | 48% |
| Beltrami County | $1,230 | $1,053 | $23.65 | 44% |
| Nicollet County | $1,230 | $970 | $23.65 | 40% |
| Rice County | $1,226 | $1,083 | $23.58 | 45% |
| St. Louis County | $1,207 | $1,013 | $23.21 | 53% |
| Carlton County | $1,207 | $1,009 | $23.21 | 47% |
| Crow Wing County | $1,172 | $971 | $22.54 | 45% |
| Goodhue County | $1,172 | $966 | $22.54 | 50% |
| Itasca County | $1,164 | $988 | $22.38 | 58% |
| Lake of the Woods County | $1,154 | $955 | $22.19 | 52% |
| Pennington County | $1,142 | $862 | $21.96 | 35% |
| Mille Lacs County | $1,124 | $903 | $21.62 | 42% |
| Winona County | $1,118 | $907 | $21.50 | 51% |
| Becker County | $1,105 | $920 | $21.25 | 46% |
| Clay County | $1,104 | $1,019 | $21.23 | 53% |
| Le Sueur County | $1,098 | $942 | $21.12 | 45% |
| Pine County | $1,096 | $877 | $21.08 | 47% |
| Meeker County | $1,089 | $904 | $20.94 | 46% |
| Pope County | $1,088 | $902 | $20.92 | 66% |
| Mower County | $1,080 | $927 | $20.77 | 44% |
| Nobles County | $1,076 | $896 | $20.69 | 42% |
| McLeod County | $1,073 | $941 | $20.63 | 40% |
| Brown County | $1,071 | $890 | $20.60 | 48% |
| Otter Tail County | $1,071 | $868 | $20.60 | 43% |
| Wadena County | $1,059 | $746 | $20.37 | 37% |
| Aitkin County | $1,048 | $869 | $20.15 | 47% |
| Freeborn County | $1,033 | $849 | $19.87 | 45% |
| Waseca County | $1,030 | $883 | $19.81 | 38% |
| Stevens County | $1,027 | $951 | $19.75 | 45% |
| Douglas County | $1,027 | $927 | $19.75 | 43% |
| Kandiyohi County | $1,026 | $909 | $19.73 | 41% |
| Todd County | $1,025 | $908 | $19.71 | 44% |
| Cook County | $1,022 | $886 | $19.65 | 41% |
| Hubbard County | $1,020 | $905 | $19.62 | 47% |
| Kanabec County | $1,014 | $962 | $19.50 | 41% |
| Swift County | $1,014 | $920 | $19.50 | 56% |
| Roseau County | $1,014 | $880 | $19.50 | 34% |
| Chippewa County | $1,014 | $869 | $19.50 | 43% |
| Cass County | $1,014 | $863 | $19.50 | 39% |
| Polk County | $1,014 | $855 | $19.50 | 55% |
| Sibley County | $1,014 | $855 | $19.50 | 42% |
| Watonwan County | $1,014 | $834 | $19.50 | 36% |
| Wabasha County | $1,014 | $830 | $19.50 | 38% |
| Cottonwood County | $1,014 | $817 | $19.50 | 30% |
| Murray County | $1,014 | $810 | $19.50 | 39% |
| Faribault County | $1,014 | $799 | $19.50 | 42% |
| Fillmore County | $1,014 | $797 | $19.50 | 40% |
| Grant County | $1,014 | $797 | $19.50 | 44% |
| Renville County | $1,014 | $790 | $19.50 | 46% |
| Morrison County | $1,014 | $788 | $19.50 | 37% |
| Jackson County | $1,014 | $787 | $19.50 | 38% |
| Lyon County | $1,014 | $781 | $19.50 | 43% |
| Norman County | $1,014 | $774 | $19.50 | 37% |
| Martin County | $1,014 | $761 | $19.50 | 51% |
| Kittson County | $1,014 | $757 | $19.50 | 26% |
| Redwood County | $1,014 | $757 | $19.50 | 48% |
| Pipestone County | $1,014 | $754 | $19.50 | 48% |
| Big Stone County | $1,014 | $745 | $19.50 | 41% |
| Clearwater County | $1,014 | $742 | $19.50 | 37% |
| Lac qui Parle County | $1,014 | $728 | $19.50 | 43% |
| Rock County | $1,014 | $698 | $19.50 | 43% |
| Mahnomen County | $1,014 | $696 | $19.50 | 35% |
| Marshall County | $1,014 | $690 | $19.50 | 43% |
| Yellow Medicine County | $1,014 | $678 | $19.50 | 30% |
| Lincoln County | $1,014 | $674 | $19.50 | 43% |
| Koochiching County | $1,014 | $671 | $19.50 | 32% |
| Traverse County | $1,014 | $615 | $19.50 | 65% |
| Red Lake County | $1,014 | $583 | $19.50 | 26% |
| Wilkin County | $1,014 | $564 | $19.50 | 42% |
- Washington $1,734$33.35
- Scott $1,734$33.35
- Dakota $1,734$33.35
- Carver $1,734$33.35
- Hennepin $1,734$33.35
- Anoka $1,734$33.35
- Ramsey $1,734$33.35
- Wright $1,734$33.35
- Isanti $1,734$33.35
- Chisago $1,734$33.35
- Sherburne $1,734$33.35
- Olmsted $1,422$27.35
- Dodge $1,422$27.35
- Lake $1,358$26.12
- Houston $1,343$25.83
- Steele $1,244$23.92
- Stearns $1,233$23.71
- Benton $1,233$23.71
- Blue Earth $1,230$23.65
- Beltrami $1,230$23.65
- Nicollet $1,230$23.65
- Rice $1,226$23.58
- St. Louis $1,207$23.21
- Carlton $1,207$23.21
- Crow Wing $1,172$22.54
- Goodhue $1,172$22.54
- Itasca $1,164$22.38
- Lake of the Woods $1,154$22.19
- Pennington $1,142$21.96
- Mille Lacs $1,124$21.62
- Winona $1,118$21.50
- Becker $1,105$21.25
- Clay $1,104$21.23
- Le Sueur $1,098$21.12
- Pine $1,096$21.08
- Meeker $1,089$20.94
- Pope $1,088$20.92
- Mower $1,080$20.77
- Nobles $1,076$20.69
- McLeod $1,073$20.63
- Brown $1,071$20.60
- Otter Tail $1,071$20.60
- Wadena $1,059$20.37
- Aitkin $1,048$20.15
- Freeborn $1,033$19.87
- Waseca $1,030$19.81
- Stevens $1,027$19.75
- Douglas $1,027$19.75
- Kandiyohi $1,026$19.73
- Todd $1,025$19.71
- Cook $1,022$19.65
- Hubbard $1,020$19.62
- Kanabec $1,014$19.50
- Swift $1,014$19.50
- Roseau $1,014$19.50
- Chippewa $1,014$19.50
- Cass $1,014$19.50
- Polk $1,014$19.50
- Sibley $1,014$19.50
- Watonwan $1,014$19.50
- Wabasha $1,014$19.50
- Cottonwood $1,014$19.50
- Murray $1,014$19.50
- Faribault $1,014$19.50
- Fillmore $1,014$19.50
- Grant $1,014$19.50
- Renville $1,014$19.50
- Morrison $1,014$19.50
- Jackson $1,014$19.50
- Lyon $1,014$19.50
- Norman $1,014$19.50
- Martin $1,014$19.50
- Kittson $1,014$19.50
- Redwood $1,014$19.50
- Pipestone $1,014$19.50
- Big Stone $1,014$19.50
- Clearwater $1,014$19.50
- Lac qui Parle $1,014$19.50
- Rock $1,014$19.50
- Mahnomen $1,014$19.50
- Marshall $1,014$19.50
- Yellow Medicine $1,014$19.50
- Lincoln $1,014$19.50
- Koochiching $1,014$19.50
- Traverse $1,014$19.50
- Red Lake $1,014$19.50
- Wilkin $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 Minnesota
What Minnesota 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.
- When must they return my deposit?
- 21 days
- Minn. Stat. §504B.178, subd. 3(a)
- If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
- 14 days
- Minn. Stat. §504B.321, subd. 1a(a)
- Only a court order can remove youMinn. Stat. §504B.375, subd. 1
- Protection from retaliationMinn. Stat. §504B.441
Help
Where to ask for help with rent in Minnesota
Free or official help. Demand usually exceeds funding, so waiting lists are common: ask at the agency for your county.
-
33 counseling agencies
HUD-approved; 12 serve in Spanish. They counsel renters for free.
See the agencies -
Rental assistance programs
Verified at their official source.
- Renter's Credit · Verified November 6, 2026
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 Minnesota is the most expensive to rent in?
By 2-bedroom fair market rent (Fiscal year 2027), the most expensive is Washington County ($1,734, about $33.35 an hour) and the cheapest Kanabec County ($1,014, about $19.50 an hour).
How many households in Minnesota spend too much on rent?
48% of renter households in Minnesota spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and 24% 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 Minnesota, for 2 bedrooms in Fiscal year 2027, it runs from $1,014 to $1,734 depending on the county.
Where do I ask for help paying rent in Minnesota?
135 public housing agencies run Section 8 vouchers and public housing in Minnesota; demand usually exceeds funding and waiting lists are common. HUD-approved counseling agencies counsel for free. Your county page shows the nearest ones.