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Mille Lacs County, MN

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Mille Lacs County, MN is $1,123 per month, ranking #466 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $71,455, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 18.9% of income on housing. Rent in Mille Lacs County has decreased 0.7% year over year. The area has a population of 27K, with 22.3% of households renting.

18.9%
Affordable
of income → rent
$1,123
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$71,455
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$909
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
-0.7%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
27K
Population
Census ACS
22.3%
Renters
of occupied housing
$237,500
Median Home Value
8.3%
Unemployment
BLS LAUS
17.1%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
10.5%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$850
Studio
$856
1 Bedroom
$1,123
2 Bedroom
$1,346
3 Bedroom
$1,884
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 Mille Lacs County, MN, a household earning the area median income of $71,455 would spend 18.9% 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
$44,920
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$22
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$909
$214 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+20.0% since 2021
$9362021$9622022$9982023$1,1312024$1,0962025$1,1232026

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 77.6 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 Mille Lacs County is 10.5%, below the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$11.13/hr
Hours/Week Needed
77.6 hrs
Poverty Rate
10.5%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Mille Lacs County is $237,500. At a median income of $71,455, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 3.3x. 17.1% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is above the national average and may indicate softer demand or seasonal housing. The local unemployment rate is 8.3%, which is above the national average and adds additional pressure on household budgets.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,663 est. mortgage
vs $1,123 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
17.1%
of housing units
Unemployment
8.3%
BLS, latest available

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
Duluth
$1,232/mo
2BR FMR · 20.8% burden
St. Cloud
$1,206/mo
2BR FMR · 19.1% burden
Mankato
$1,171/mo
2BR FMR · 18.8% burden

Compare Mille Lacs County

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

Areas With Similar Rent to Mille Lacs County

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Mille Lacs County, MN is $1,123 per month. A studio is $850/mo, a 1-bedroom is $856/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,346/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $909/mo.

Mille Lacs County has a rent burden of 18.9%, meaning a household earning the median income of $71,455 would spend 18.9% 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 $44,920.

Mille Lacs County's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,123/mo is $127 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Mille Lacs County ranks #466 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Mille Lacs County without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $44,920, or a full-time hourly wage of $22/hour. The area median income is $71,455.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Mille Lacs County decreased by 0.7% compared to the prior year. Decreasing rents may signal softening demand or new housing supply entering the 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.