HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2026 · effective Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026
Fair Market Rent in Golden Valley County, North Dakota (FY 2026)
$1,027 a month. That's HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Golden Valley County, and it's the baseline every voucher in Golden Valley is measured against.
2 bedroom FMR
$1,027
FY 2026, utilities included
Payment standard range
$924 to $1,130
90% to 110% of FMR
Income to afford 2BR
$41,080
per year, at 30% of income
Rank in North Dakota
14th of 53
by 2BR FMR
HUD has already published FY 2027. On October 1, 2026 the two-bedroom rate in Golden Valley moves to $1,233. That's up 20%. The full FY 2027 table is in the history section below.
HUD's number is one input. What does a two-bedroom in Golden Valley actually rent for?
Search any address in Golden Valley 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 | $820 | $738 to $902 | $32,800 | $15.77/hr | +8.5% |
| 1 bedroom | $826 | $743 to $909 | $33,040 | $15.88/hr | +8.5% |
| 2 bedroom | $1,027 | $924 to $1,130 | $41,080 | $19.75/hr | +10.2% |
| 3 bedroom | $1,428 | $1,285 to $1,571 | $57,120 | $27.46/hr | +27.2% |
| 4 bedroom | $1,723 | $1,551 to $1,895 | $68,920 | $33.13/hr | +10.1% |
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 | $1,981 | $1,783 to $2,179 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $2,240 | $2,016 to $2,464 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $2,498 | $2,248 to $2,748 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $2,757 | $2,481 to $3,033 |
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 Golden Valley, that runs from $820 for a studio up to $1,723 for four bedrooms, all five rates in the table above.
Because Golden Valley 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, Beach included.
Among North Dakota's 53 counties, Golden Valley ranks 14th for two-bedroom FMR. That's about 18% above the state median of $873 and within a couple percent of the national median county at $1,018. About 1,734 people live here, 50th in the state.
Rates by ZIP code
Zoom in and the picture changes. HUD's Small Area FMRs put a two-bedroom at $1,040 in 58654 (Sentinel Butte) and $1,240 in 58632 (Golva), with the 3 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 Golden Valley somewhere between $924 and $1,130. 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.
$1,027 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $41,080 a year. Put another way, $20 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% ($924) | HAP at 100% ($1,027) | HAP at 110% ($1,130) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $174 | $277 | $380 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went up 10% from FY 2025 ($932) to FY 2026 ($1,027). Since FY 2020 it's up 19% in total, about 2.9% a year. The North Dakota median moved down 6% over the same year.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2BR change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $648 | $653 | $864 | $1,089 | $1,295 | — |
| FY 2021 | $591 | $595 | $778 | $981 | $1,166 | -10.0% |
| FY 2022 | $653 | $664 | $757 | $936 | $1,194 | -2.7% |
| FY 2023 | $639 | $643 | $826 | $1,005 | $1,370 | +9.1% |
| FY 2024 | $699 | $703 | $872 | $1,054 | $1,480 | +5.6% |
| FY 2025 | $756 | $761 | $932 | $1,123 | $1,565 | +6.9% |
| FY 2026 | $820 | $826 | $1,027 | $1,428 | $1,723 | +10.2% |
| FY 2027 | $963 | $970 | $1,233 | $1,707 | $2,061 | +20.1% |
Nearby counties
Questions people ask
$1,027 a month for FY 2026, which runs October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The other rates are $820 for a studio, $826 for one bedroom, $1,428 for three and $1,723 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 Golden Valley actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in Golden Valley for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. 3 free searches, no card.
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