At $1,827/mo, rent takes about 18% 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 $1,827 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
Rent in Cottage Grove is 0.3% below its high of $1,832 in August 2026, at $1,827 as of September 2026.
Rent in Cottage Grove changed +2.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 53 Minnesota cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($120,791) is $3,020 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,840); a 4-bedroom is $3,180.
South Saint Paul, 7 miles away, rents for 18% less ($1,504/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Cottage Grove. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Cottage Grove, MN is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 40.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Cottage Grove, MN has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $120,791 today, compared with $108,887 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 38,582 to 40,992 between 2021 and 2024, a 6.2% change.
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Can you afford rent in Cottage Grove on your salary?
At $1,827/mo, how Cottage Grove rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Cottage Grove rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Cottage Grove. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Cottage Grove
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Cottage Grove is $1,827/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,540/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,130/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,750/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,840/mo.
At 18% of local median household income ($120,791/yr), Cottage Grove ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Cottage Grove rent compare to other cities in Minnesota?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Cottage Grove?
At $1,827/mo, rent takes ~18% of Cottage Grove's median household income ($120,791/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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