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Wabasha County, MN

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Wabasha County, MN is $1,001 per month, ranking #584 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $80,133, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 15% of income on housing. Rent in Wabasha County has increased 10.6% year over year. The area has a population of 22K, with 18.4% of households renting.

15%
Affordable
of income → rent
$1,001
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$80,133
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$798
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+10.6%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
22K
Population
Census ACS
18.4%
Renters
of occupied housing
$245,800
Median Home Value
3.9%
Unemployment
BLS LAUS
10.8%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
8.4%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$872
Studio
$913
1 Bedroom
$1,001
2 Bedroom
$1,334
3 Bedroom
$1,679
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 Wabasha County, MN, a household earning the area median income of $80,133 would spend 15% 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
$40,040
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$19
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$798
$203 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+36.4% since 2021
$7342021$7572022$8262023$9052024$9332025$1,0012026

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

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Minnesota is $11.13/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 69.2 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 Wabasha County is 8.4%, below the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$11.13/hr
Hours/Week Needed
69.2 hrs
Poverty Rate
8.4%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Wabasha County is $245,800. At a median income of $80,133, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 3.1x. 10.8% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is near the national average. The local unemployment rate is 3.9%, below the national average, indicating a relatively strong local labor market.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,721 est. mortgage
vs $1,001 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
10.8%
of housing units
Unemployment
3.9%
BLS, latest available

Other Areas in Minnesota

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
$1,709/mo
2BR FMR · 20.9% burden
Rochester
$1,407/mo
2BR FMR · 18.8% burden
Duluth
$1,232/mo
2BR FMR · 20.8% burden
St. Cloud
$1,206/mo
2BR FMR · 19.1% burden
Mankato
$1,171/mo
2BR FMR · 18.8% burden

Compare Wabasha County

vs Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MNvs Rochester, MNvs Duluth, MN

Areas With Similar Rent to Wabasha County

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Wabasha County, MN is $1,001 per month. A studio is $872/mo, a 1-bedroom is $913/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,334/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $798/mo.

Wabasha County has a rent burden of 15%, meaning a household earning the median income of $80,133 would spend 15% 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 $40,040.

Wabasha County's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,001/mo is $249 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Wabasha County ranks #584 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Wabasha County without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $40,040, or a full-time hourly wage of $19/hour. The area median income is $80,133.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Wabasha County increased by 10.6% 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.