Rents are 3% below what White Bear Lake'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 $1,745 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 White Bear Lake is 1.1% below its high of $1,765 in June 2026, at $1,745 as of September 2026.
Rent in White Bear Lake changed -0.3% 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 ($83,554) is $2,089 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,570); a 3-bedroom is $2,090.
Maplewood, 5 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,488/mo), about $3,100 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for White Bear Lake. 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
White Bear Lake, MN is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 41.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How White Bear Lake, MN has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in White Bear Lake, MN has shifted from $1,636 to $1,745, up 6.7% since 2023. Household income in the area moved from $75,963 to $83,554 across the same window, up 10.0% versus 2021. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show White Bear Lake, MN losing about 612 residents over the five-year window, down 2.5% on net. The renter share has eased from 34.3% to 32.2%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 35.9% to 41.7% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in White Bear Lake, MN look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about White Bear Lake
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in White Bear Lake on your salary?
At $1,745/mo, how White Bear Lake rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
White Bear Lake rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in White Bear Lake. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in White Bear Lake
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in White Bear Lake is $1,745/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,140/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,570/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,290/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,090/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($83,554/yr), White Bear Lake ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in White Bear Lake?
Is rent going up or down in White Bear Lake?
How does White Bear Lake rent compare to other cities in Minnesota?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than White Bear Lake?
At $1,745/mo, rent takes ~25% of White Bear Lake's median household income ($83,554/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 White Bear Lake.
No discussions yet.