Fair Market Rents: Stearns County, MN (FY2026)
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for Stearns County set the ceiling for what Housing Choice Vouchers pay locally. FMR equals the estimated 40th-percentile gross rent — shelter plus utilities — for modest, non-luxury units.
| Unit size | FY2026 FMR | MN median* |
|---|---|---|
| Studio (0-BR) | $874/mo | $727 (+20%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $919/mo | $833 (+10%) |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,206/mo | $999 (+21%) |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,604/mo | $1,353 (+19%) |
| 4+ Bedrooms | $1,873/mo | $1,573 (+19%) |
*Median across all FMR-publishing counties in MN. Source: HUD FY2026 FMR schedule.
Using FMR as a voucher holder in Stearns County
- Your housing authority sets payment standards per bedroom, typically 90–110% of these figures. How payment standards work →
- You may rent above the standard by paying the difference, subject to a 40%-of-income cap at lease-up.
- In high-cost pockets, ask about exception standards or Small Area FMRs by ZIP code.
Subsidized housing in Stearns County
We track 55 assisted properties countywide:
| City | Properties | Assisted units |
|---|---|---|
| Albany | 4 | 94 |
| Cold Spring | 4 | 143 |
| Melrose | 3 | 79 |
| Saint Cloud | 36 | 1,728 |
| Sartell | 5 | 148 |