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Livingston County, MI

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Livingston County, MI is $1,457 per month, ranking #221 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $75,123, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 23.3% of income on housing. Rent in Livingston County has increased 7.3% year over year. The area has a population of 4.4M, with 29.1% of households renting.

23.3%
Moderately Affordable
of income → rent
$1,457
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$75,123
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$1,162
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+7.3%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
4.4M
Population
Census ACS
29.1%
Renters
of occupied housing
$237,100
Median Home Value
8.3%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
13.2%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$1,005
Studio
$1,264
1 Bedroom
$1,457
2 Bedroom
$2,026
3 Bedroom
$2,285
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 Livingston County, MI, a household earning the area median income of $75,123 would spend 23.3% 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
$58,280
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$28
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$1,162
$295 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+34.9% since 2021
$1,0802021$1,1252022$1,2612023$1,3582024$1,4112025$1,4572026

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

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Michigan is $12.48/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 89.8 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 Livingston County is 13.2%, near the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$12.48/hr
Hours/Week Needed
89.8 hrs
Poverty Rate
13.2%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Livingston County is $237,100. At a median income of $75,123, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 3.2x. 8.3% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is near the national average.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,660 est. mortgage
vs $1,457 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
8.3%
of housing units

Other Areas in Michigan

Ann Arbor
$1,656/mo
2BR FMR · 22.8% burden
Grand Rapids-Wyoming
$1,531/mo
2BR FMR · 22.9% burden
Holland-Grand Haven
$1,519/mo
2BR FMR · 22.7% burden
Leelanau County
$1,497/mo
2BR FMR · 19.5% burden
Detroit-Warren-Livonia
$1,411/mo
2BR FMR · 22.5% burden

Compare Livingston County

vs Ann Arbor, MIvs Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MIvs Holland-Grand Haven, MI

Areas With Similar Rent to Livingston County

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Livingston County, MI is $1,457 per month. A studio is $1,005/mo, a 1-bedroom is $1,264/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $2,026/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $1,162/mo.

Livingston County has a rent burden of 23.3%, meaning a household earning the median income of $75,123 would spend 23.3% 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 $58,280.

Livingston County's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,457/mo is $207 above the national median of $1,250/mo. Livingston County ranks #221 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Livingston County without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $58,280, or a full-time hourly wage of $28/hour. The area median income is $75,123.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Livingston County increased by 7.3% 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.