At $1,023/mo, rent takes about 22% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,023 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
30% of the median household income ($55,405) is $1,385 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,320); a 4-bedroom is $1,560.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Bemidji. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Bemidji, MN is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 32.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Bemidji, MN has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $55,405 today, compared with $42,218 five years earlier. The population has grown by 3.0% since 2021, moving from about 15,114 residents to roughly 15,569. Renters now make up 56.9% of households, compared with 60.7% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 32.5% of adults here, versus 28.6% in 2021.
Discussions about Bemidji
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Bemidji on your salary?
At $1,023/mo, how Bemidji rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Bemidji rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Bemidji. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Bemidji
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Bemidji is $1,023/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $800/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,090/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $830/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,320/mo.
At 22% of local median household income ($55,405/yr), Bemidji ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Bemidji?
Is rent going up or down in Bemidji?
How does Bemidji rent compare to other cities in Minnesota?
At $1,023/mo, rent takes ~22% of Bemidji's median household income ($55,405/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Bemidji.
No discussions yet.