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Vernon County, WI

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Vernon County, WI is $973 per month, ranking #628 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $69,556, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 16.8% of income on housing. The area has a population of 31K, with 18.9% of households renting.

16.8%
Affordable
of income → rent
$973
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$69,556
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$826
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
31K
Population
Census ACS
18.9%
Renters
of occupied housing
$210,600
Median Home Value
3%
Unemployment
BLS LAUS
12.6%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
14.5%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$671
Studio
$760
1 Bedroom
$973
2 Bedroom
$1,221
3 Bedroom
$1,485
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 Vernon County, WI, a household earning the area median income of $69,556 would spend 16.8% 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
$38,920
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$19
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$826
$147 below FMR

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Wisconsin is $7.25/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 103.2 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 Vernon County is 14.5%, near the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$7.25/hr
Hours/Week Needed
103.2 hrs
Poverty Rate
14.5%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Vernon County is $210,600. At a median income of $69,556, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 3.0x. 12.6% 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 3%, below the national average, indicating a relatively strong local labor market.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,474 est. mortgage
vs $973 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
12.6%
of housing units
Unemployment
3%
BLS, latest available

Other Areas in Wisconsin

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
$1,709/mo
2BR FMR · 20.9% burden
Madison
$1,694/mo
2BR FMR · 23.4% burden
Kenosha
$1,402/mo
2BR FMR · 21.2% burden
Milwaukee-Waukesha
$1,338/mo
2BR FMR · 21% burden
Janesville-Beloit
$1,246/mo
2BR FMR · 20.1% burden

Compare Vernon County

vs Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, WIvs Madison, WIvs Kenosha, WI

Areas With Similar Rent to Vernon County

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Vernon County, WI is $973 per month. A studio is $671/mo, a 1-bedroom is $760/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,221/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $826/mo.

Vernon County has a rent burden of 16.8%, meaning a household earning the median income of $69,556 would spend 16.8% 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 $38,920.

Vernon County's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $973/mo is $277 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Vernon County ranks #628 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Vernon County without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $38,920, or a full-time hourly wage of $19/hour. The area median income is $69,556.

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.