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Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI is $1,236 per month, ranking #358 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $63,495, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 23.4% of income on housing. The area has a population of 175K, with 21.7% of households renting.

23.4%
Moderately Affordable
of income → rent
$1,236
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$63,495
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$960
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
175K
Population
Census ACS
21.7%
Renters
of occupied housing
$180,900
Median Home Value
10.5%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
12.6%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$866
Studio
$942
1 Bedroom
$1,236
2 Bedroom
$1,490
3 Bedroom
$1,636
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 Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI, a household earning the area median income of $63,495 would spend 23.4% 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
$49,440
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$24
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$960
$276 below FMR

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Michigan is $12.48/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 76.2 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 Muskegon-Norton Shores is 12.6%, below the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$12.48/hr
Hours/Week Needed
76.2 hrs
Poverty Rate
12.6%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Muskegon-Norton Shores is $180,900. At a median income of $63,495, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 2.8x. 10.5% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is near the national average.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,266 est. mortgage
vs $1,236 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
10.5%
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
Livingston County
$1,457/mo
2BR FMR · 23.3% burden

Compare Muskegon-Norton Shores

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

Areas With Similar Rent to Muskegon-Norton Shores

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI is $1,236 per month. A studio is $866/mo, a 1-bedroom is $942/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,490/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $960/mo.

Muskegon-Norton Shores has a rent burden of 23.4%, meaning a household earning the median income of $63,495 would spend 23.4% 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 $49,440.

Muskegon-Norton Shores's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,236/mo is $14 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Muskegon-Norton Shores ranks #358 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Muskegon-Norton Shores without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $49,440, or a full-time hourly wage of $24/hour. The area median income is $63,495.

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.