At $1,739/mo, rent takes about 25% 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 $1,739 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 ($84,895) is $2,122 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,970); a 4-bedroom is $2,240.
Burnsville, 20 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,493/mo), about $3,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Northfield. 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
Northfield, MN is majority owner-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 53.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Northfield, MN has changed in 5 years
Median household income rose from $73,877 to $84,895 between 2021 and 2024, a 14.9% shift. The population has grown by 1.8% since 2021, moving from about 20,374 residents to roughly 20,742. Renters now make up 30.7% of households, compared with 32.4% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 53.3% of adults here, versus 50.4% in 2021.
Discussions about Northfield
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Northfield on your salary?
At $1,739/mo, how Northfield rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Northfield rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Northfield. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Northfield
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Northfield is $1,739/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,060/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,460/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,200/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,970/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($84,895/yr), Northfield 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 Northfield?
Is rent going up or down in Northfield?
How does Northfield rent compare to other cities in Minnesota?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Northfield?
At $1,739/mo, rent takes ~25% of Northfield's median household income ($84,895/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 Northfield.
No discussions yet.