Rents are 4% below what Moorhead's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $1,093 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 Moorhead is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2022.
Rent in Moorhead changed +3.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 53 Minnesota cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($72,761) is $1,819 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,750).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Moorhead. 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
Moorhead, MN is majority owner-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 41.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Moorhead, MN has changed in 5 years
Since 2023, the typical rent in Moorhead, MN has increased from $944 to $1,093, a 15.8% change over five years. Median household income rose from $62,940 to $72,761 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.6% shift. The population has grown by 2.1% since 2021, moving from about 44,129 residents to roughly 45,036. College-educated residents now make up 41.6% of adults here, versus 39.4% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Moorhead, MN reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in Moorhead on your salary?
At $1,093/mo, how Moorhead rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Moorhead rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Moorhead. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Moorhead
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Moorhead is $1,093/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $710/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,040/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $860/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,460/mo.
At 18% of local median household income ($72,761/yr), Moorhead ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Moorhead?
Is rent going up or down in Moorhead?
How does Moorhead rent compare to other cities in Minnesota?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Moorhead?
At $1,093/mo, rent takes ~18% of Moorhead's median household income ($72,761/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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