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Duluth, MN

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Duluth, MN is $1,232 per month, ranking #364 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $71,067, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 20.8% of income on housing. Rent in Duluth has increased 10.7% year over year. The area has a population of 281K, with 27.1% of households renting.

20.8%
Moderately Affordable
of income → rent
$1,232
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$71,067
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$959
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+10.7%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
281K
Population
Census ACS
27.1%
Renters
of occupied housing
$208,900
Median Home Value
16.5%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
12.6%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$849
Studio
$978
1 Bedroom
$1,232
2 Bedroom
$1,689
3 Bedroom
$2,067
4 Bedroom

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality units in an area. FMRs are used to determine payment standards for the Housing Choice Voucher program and other federal housing assistance.

Housing Affordability

In Duluth, MN, a household earning the area median income of $71,067 would spend 20.8% of their gross income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This falls below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, meaning housing is relatively affordable for median-income households in this area.

Income Needed for 2BR
$49,280
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$24
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$959
$273 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+39.4% since 2021
$8842021$9362022$1,0872023$1,1132024$1,1402025$1,2322026

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent by fiscal year. Source: HUD FMR API.

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Minnesota is $11.13/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 85.1 hours per week to afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding 30% of income on housing. This means a single minimum-wage earner cannot afford a 2-bedroom working a standard 40-hour week. The poverty rate in Duluth is 12.6%, below the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$11.13/hr
Hours/Week Needed
85.1 hrs
Poverty Rate
12.6%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Duluth is $208,900. At a median income of $71,067, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 2.9x. 16.5% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is above the national average and may indicate softer demand or seasonal housing.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,462 est. mortgage
vs $1,232 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
16.5%
of housing units

Other Areas in Minnesota

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
$1,709/mo
2BR FMR · 20.9% burden
Rochester
$1,407/mo
2BR FMR · 18.8% burden
St. Cloud
$1,206/mo
2BR FMR · 19.1% burden
Mankato
$1,171/mo
2BR FMR · 18.8% burden
La Crosse-Onalaska
$1,166/mo
2BR FMR · 19.7% burden

Compare Duluth

vs Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MNvs Rochester, MNvs St. Cloud, MN

Areas With Similar Rent to Duluth

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Duluth, MN is $1,232 per month. A studio is $849/mo, a 1-bedroom is $978/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,689/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $959/mo.

Duluth has a rent burden of 20.8%, meaning a household earning the median income of $71,067 would spend 20.8% of income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This is below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, indicating relatively affordable housing. To afford a 2-bedroom without being cost-burdened, a household would need an annual income of at least $49,280.

Duluth's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,232/mo is $18 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Duluth ranks #364 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Duluth without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $49,280, or a full-time hourly wage of $24/hour. The area median income is $71,067.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Duluth increased by 10.7% compared to the prior year. This is a significant increase, suggesting growing demand in the local housing market.

Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality rental units. Rent burden is calculated as annual 2BR FMR divided by area median household income. Census data (income, home value, population, vacancy) is from the ACS 5-Year estimates. Unemployment rates are from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.