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Monroe, MI

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Monroe, MI is $1,326 per month, ranking #298 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $75,272, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 21.1% of income on housing. Rent in Monroe has increased 14.0% year over year. The area has a population of 155K, with 18.8% of households renting.

21.1%
Moderately Affordable
of income → rent
$1,326
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$75,272
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$1,017
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+14%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
155K
Population
Census ACS
18.8%
Renters
of occupied housing
$215,700
Median Home Value
5.7%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
11.1%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$914
Studio
$1,011
1 Bedroom
$1,326
2 Bedroom
$1,605
3 Bedroom
$2,147
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 Monroe, MI, a household earning the area median income of $75,272 would spend 21.1% 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
$53,040
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$26
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$1,017
$309 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+47.5% since 2021
$8992021$9412022$1,0722023$1,1632024$1,2642025$1,3262026

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

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Michigan is $12.48/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 81.7 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 Monroe is 11.1%, below the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$12.48/hr
Hours/Week Needed
81.7 hrs
Poverty Rate
11.1%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Monroe is $215,700. At a median income of $75,272, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 2.9x. 5.7% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is below the national average and suggests a tight housing market.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,510 est. mortgage
vs $1,326 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
5.7%
of housing units

Other Areas in Michigan

Ann Arbor
$1,656/mo
2BR FMR · 22.8% burden
Grand Rapids-Wyoming
$1,531/mo
2BR FMR · 22.9% burden
Holland-Grand Haven
$1,519/mo
2BR FMR · 22.7% burden
Leelanau County
$1,497/mo
2BR FMR · 19.5% burden
Livingston County
$1,457/mo
2BR FMR · 23.3% burden

Compare Monroe

vs Ann Arbor, MIvs Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MIvs Holland-Grand Haven, MI

Areas With Similar Rent to Monroe

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Monroe, MI is $1,326 per month. A studio is $914/mo, a 1-bedroom is $1,011/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,605/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $1,017/mo.

Monroe has a rent burden of 21.1%, meaning a household earning the median income of $75,272 would spend 21.1% 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 $53,040.

Monroe's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,326/mo is $76 above the national median of $1,250/mo. Monroe ranks #298 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Monroe without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $53,040, or a full-time hourly wage of $26/hour. The area median income is $75,272.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Monroe increased by 14.0% 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.