HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2026 · effective Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026
Fair Market Rent in McKenzie County, North Dakota (FY 2026)
A two-bedroom in McKenzie County carries a FY 2026 Fair Market Rent of $1,354 a month, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Everything Section 8 pays in McKenzie keys off that figure.
2 bedroom FMR
$1,354
FY 2026, utilities included
Payment standard range
$1,219 to $1,489
90% to 110% of FMR
Income to afford 2BR
$54,160
per year, at 30% of income
Rank in North Dakota
2nd of 53
by 2BR FMR
HUD has already published FY 2027. On October 1, 2026 the two-bedroom rate in McKenzie moves to $1,577. That's up 16%. The full FY 2027 table is in the history section below.
HUD's number is one input. What does a two-bedroom in McKenzie actually rent for?
Search any address in McKenzie 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 | $1,117 | $1,005 to $1,229 | $44,680 | $21.48/hr | +2.5% |
| 1 bedroom | $1,124 | $1,012 to $1,236 | $44,960 | $21.62/hr | +2.6% |
| 2 bedroom | $1,354 | $1,219 to $1,489 | $54,160 | $26.04/hr | +0.2% |
| 3 bedroom | $1,672 | $1,505 to $1,839 | $66,880 | $32.15/hr | +2.7% |
| 4 bedroom | $2,271 | $2,044 to $2,498 | $90,840 | $43.67/hr | +1.6% |
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 | $2,612 | $2,351 to $2,873 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $2,952 | $2,657 to $3,247 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $3,293 | $2,964 to $3,622 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $3,634 | $3,271 to $3,997 |
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 McKenzie, that runs from $1,117 for a studio up to $2,271 for four bedrooms, all five rates in the table above.
Because McKenzie 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, Grassy Butte included.
Among North Dakota's 53 counties, McKenzie ranks 2nd for two-bedroom FMR. That's about 55% above the state median of $873 and about 33% above the national median county at $1,018. About 14,081 people live here, 10th in the state.
Rates by ZIP code
Zoom in and the picture changes. HUD's Small Area FMRs put a two-bedroom at $1,220 in 58757 (Mandaree) and $1,400 in 58854 (Watford City), with the 7 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 McKenzie somewhere between $1,219 and $1,489. 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.
$1,354 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $54,160 a year. Put another way, $26 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% ($1,219) | HAP at 100% ($1,354) | HAP at 110% ($1,489) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $469 | $604 | $739 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $19 | $154 | $289 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went up 0% from FY 2025 ($1,351) to FY 2026 ($1,354). Since FY 2020 it's up 31% in total, about 4.6% 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 | $778 | $784 | $1,032 | $1,286 | $1,568 | — |
| FY 2021 | $768 | $824 | $1,086 | $1,351 | $1,655 | +5.2% |
| FY 2022 | $838 | $844 | $1,110 | $1,372 | $1,887 | +2.2% |
| FY 2023 | $982 | $988 | $1,301 | $1,583 | $2,150 | +17.2% |
| FY 2024 | $1,090 | $1,097 | $1,352 | $1,635 | $2,232 | +3.9% |
| FY 2025 | $1,090 | $1,096 | $1,351 | $1,628 | $2,235 | -0.1% |
| FY 2026 | $1,117 | $1,124 | $1,354 | $1,672 | $2,271 | +0.2% |
| FY 2027 | $1,199 | $1,206 | $1,577 | $2,053 | $2,636 | +16.5% |
Nearby counties
Questions people ask
$1,354 a month for FY 2026, which runs October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The other rates are $1,117 for a studio, $1,124 for one bedroom, $1,672 for three and $2,271 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 McKenzie actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in McKenzie for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. 3 free searches, no card.
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