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Grand Forks, ND

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Grand Forks, ND is $1,089 per month, ranking #511 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $68,653, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 19% of income on housing. Rent in Grand Forks has increased 17.2% year over year. The area has a population of 104K, with 42.2% of households renting.

19%
Affordable
of income → rent
$1,089
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$68,653
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$947
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+17.2%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
104K
Population
Census ACS
42.2%
Renters
of occupied housing
$232,900
Median Home Value
10.1%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
13.2%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$863
Studio
$868
1 Bedroom
$1,089
2 Bedroom
$1,515
3 Bedroom
$1,827
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 Grand Forks, ND, a household earning the area median income of $68,653 would spend 19% 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
$43,560
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$21
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$947
$142 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+23.3% since 2021
$8832021$8542022$8902023$9292024$9842025$1,0892026

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent by fiscal year. Source: HUD FMR API.

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in North Dakota is $7.25/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 115.5 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 Grand Forks is 13.2%, near the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$7.25/hr
Hours/Week Needed
115.5 hrs
Poverty Rate
13.2%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Grand Forks is $232,900. At a median income of $68,653, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 3.4x. 10.1% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is near the national average.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,630 est. mortgage
vs $1,089 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
10.1%
of housing units

Other Areas in North Dakota

Bismarck
$1,175/mo
2BR FMR · 16.8% burden
Ward County
$1,165/mo
2BR FMR · 17.6% burden
Fargo
$1,112/mo
2BR FMR · 17.7% burden
Renville County
$1,081/mo
2BR FMR · 17% burden
McHenry County
$1,000/mo
2BR FMR · 14.9% burden

Compare Grand Forks

vs Bismarck, NDvs Ward County, NDvs Fargo, ND

Areas With Similar Rent to Grand Forks

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Grand Forks, ND is $1,089 per month. A studio is $863/mo, a 1-bedroom is $868/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,515/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $947/mo.

Grand Forks has a rent burden of 19%, meaning a household earning the median income of $68,653 would spend 19% 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 $43,560.

Grand Forks's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,089/mo is $161 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Grand Forks ranks #511 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Grand Forks without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $43,560, or a full-time hourly wage of $21/hour. The area median income is $68,653.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Grand Forks increased by 17.2% compared to the prior year. This is a significant increase, suggesting growing demand in the local housing market.

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.