HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2026 · effective Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026
Fair Market Rent in Branch County, Michigan (FY 2026)
A two-bedroom in Branch County carries a FY 2026 Fair Market Rent of $973 a month, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Everything Section 8 pays in Branch keys off that figure.
2 bedroom FMR
$973
FY 2026, utilities included
Payment standard range
$876 to $1,070
90% to 110% of FMR
Income to afford 2BR
$38,920
per year, at 30% of income
Rank in Michigan
62nd of 83
by 2BR FMR
HUD has already published FY 2027. On October 1, 2026 the two-bedroom rate in Branch moves to $1,093. That's up 12%. The full FY 2027 table is in the history section below.
HUD's number is one input. What does a two-bedroom in Branch actually rent for?
Search any address in Branch for a rent estimate built from nearby comps, with the HUD figure right next to it.
FY 2026 Fair Market Rents
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard | Income needed | Hourly wage | vs FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $689 | $620 to $758 | $27,560 | $13.25/hr | +2.4% |
| 1 bedroom | $840 | $756 to $924 | $33,600 | $16.15/hr | +8.2% |
| 2 bedroom | $973 | $876 to $1,070 | $38,920 | $18.71/hr | +4.3% |
| 3 bedroom | $1,324 | $1,192 to $1,456 | $52,960 | $25.46/hr | +7.5% |
| 4 bedroom | $1,329 | $1,196 to $1,462 | $53,160 | $25.56/hr | +7.4% |
5 to 8 bedrooms (PropMetrics estimates)
HUD stops at four bedrooms. These add 15% of the four-bedroom rent per extra bedroom. It's our estimate, not a HUD number.
| Bedrooms | Estimated FMR | Payment standard |
|---|---|---|
| 5 bedroom Estimate | $1,528 | $1,375 to $1,681 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $1,728 | $1,555 to $1,901 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $1,927 | $1,734 to $2,120 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $2,126 | $1,913 to $2,339 |
Source: HUD Office of Policy Development and Research, FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. Rents include utilities. huduser.gov
Fair Market Rent is HUD's estimate of what a modest, decent unit rents for in an area, utilities included. It's set once a year and runs October to September. For FY 2026 that's October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. In Branch, that runs from $689 for a studio up to $1,329 for four bedrooms, all five rates in the table above.
Because Branch sits outside any HUD metro area, its rate is a county-wide figure built from local rents. One number covers every address in the county, Bronson included.
Among Michigan's 83 counties, Branch ranks 62nd for two-bedroom FMR. That's about 6% below the state median of $1,033 and about 4% below the national median county at $1,018. About 44,795 people live here, 38th in the state.
Rates by ZIP code
Zoom in and the picture changes. HUD's Small Area FMRs put a two-bedroom at $970 in 49028 (Bronson) and $1,120 in 49255 (Montgomery), with the 6 ZIP codes in between. Housing authorities in HUD-designated metros use those ZIP rates instead of the county rate. Everywhere else the ZIP numbers show where rents actually sit, and the county rate stays the official standard.
What a voucher pays here
The voucher doesn't pay the FMR itself. It pays the payment standard. Housing authorities set it anywhere from 90% to 110% of FMR, which puts a two-bedroom standard in Branch somewhere between $876 and $1,070. The tenant pays roughly 30% of their income, the voucher covers the rest up to the standard, and the PHA won't approve a rent above what comparable unassisted units get.
$973 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $38,920 a year. Put another way, $19 an hour full time.
Worked example for a two-bedroom, assuming the rent equals the payment standard. Tenant pays 30% of monthly income, HUD's housing assistance payment covers the rest.
| Monthly household income | Tenant pays (30%) | HAP at 90% ($876) | HAP at 100% ($973) | HAP at 110% ($1,070) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $126 | $223 | $320 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went up 4% from FY 2025 ($933) to FY 2026 ($973). Since FY 2020 it's up 33% in total, about 4.9% a year. The Michigan median moved up 7% over the same year.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2BR change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $551 | $578 | $732 | $933 | $992 | — |
| FY 2021 | $589 | $625 | $792 | $995 | $1,074 | +8.2% |
| FY 2022 | $619 | $629 | $796 | $1,009 | $1,079 | +0.5% |
| FY 2023 | $650 | $654 | $828 | $1,067 | $1,112 | +4.0% |
| FY 2024 | $747 | $752 | $928 | $1,233 | $1,236 | +12.1% |
| FY 2025 | $673 | $776 | $933 | $1,232 | $1,237 | +0.5% |
| FY 2026 | $689 | $840 | $973 | $1,324 | $1,329 | +4.3% |
| FY 2027 | $964 | $984 | $1,093 | $1,479 | $1,503 | +12.3% |
Nearby counties
Calhoun County
$1,17621 mi · pop 134,011
St. Joseph County
$1,01922 mi · pop 60,887
Hillsdale County
$1,00224 mi · pop 45,698
Kalamazoo County
$1,16233 mi · pop 261,426
Jackson County
$1,16539 mi · pop 160,637
Cass County
$99345 mi · pop 51,604
Barry County
$1,33448 mi · pop 62,581
Eaton County
$1,26849 mi · pop 109,072
Questions people ask
$973 a month for FY 2026, which runs October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The other rates are $689 for a studio, $840 for one bedroom, $1,324 for three and $1,329 for four.
Tools for this county
Fair Market Rent lookup
Look up any ZIP code's Small Area FMR by bedroom count.
Section 8 rent calculator
Work out the payment standard and tenant share for a specific rent.
What is Fair Market Rent?
How HUD calculates FMR and what it means for landlords.
Rent affordability calculator
See what income a household needs for a given rent.
What does a rental in Branch actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in Branch for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. 3 free searches, no card.
Free tier. No credit card.