How much does it cost to rent in Grand Forks, ND?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Grand Forks, ND is $1,172. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Grand Forks cheaper than other North Dakota cities?

Grand Forks falls in the middle range for North Dakota, ranking #7 out of 11 cities at $1,172/mo.

When was Grand Forks rent data last updated?

Grand Forks rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Is Grand Forks a renter's market or a landlord's market?

Based on RentDataNow's Rent Market Meter, Grand Forks is currently a renter's market. Rents are softening (up only 3.6% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage. The meter is derived from rent-price momentum (year-over-year and month-over-month change), not inventory levels.

City Report · ND

Grand Forks

Name: Average Rent Prices in Grand Forks, ND
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 59,042·7th most expensive in North Dakota·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$1,172/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.6%

Month-over-Month

-3.5%

vs US Median

-$793

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Grand Forks · $1,172

More affordable than 93% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

40/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 5% above what Grand Forks's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$1,172/mo

Expected by trend

$1,114/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Grand Forks's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$780

1 BR

$785

2 BR

$985

3 BR

$1,385

4 BR+

$1,665

Research median

$985/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$14,064/yr

At $1,172/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (up only 3.6% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.6% YoY, -3.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Grand Forks, ND is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 40% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

59,042

Median income

$63,627

Median age

29.6

Renters

53.6%

Age distribution

19.3%

38.6%

19.5%

14.1%

Under 1819.3%

18–3438.6%

35–5419.5%

55–648.5%

65+14.1%

Gender

51.7%

48.3%

Male51.7%

Female48.3%

Race & ethnicity

81.6%

White81.6%

Black4.4%

Hispanic5.6%

Asian3.3%

Other5.1%

Education (25+)

21.2%

34.6%

40%

No HS diploma4.3%

HS diploma21.2%

Some college34.6%

Bachelor's+40%

Housing tenure

46.4%

53.6%

Owner46.4%

Renter53.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Grand Forks, ND has changed in 5 years

Rent

$908 → $1,172

up 29.1%

Income

$53,611 → $63,627

up 18.7%

Population

58,867 → 59,042

up 0.3%

Renter share

56.3% → 53.6%

-2.7 pts

Bachelor's+

37.9% → 40%

+2.1 pts

Rent in Grand Forks, ND has increased 29.1% since 2021, going from about $908 per month to roughly $1,172 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $53,611 in 2021 to $63,627 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 10.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. About 53.6% of households rent today, against 56.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 37.9% to 40%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Grand Forks, ND market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Grand Forks

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View Grand Forks rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Grand Forks on your salary?

At $1,172/mo, how Grand Forks rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $91,646/yr · Rent = 15.3% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $65,068/yr · Rent = 21.6% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $74,952/yr · Rent = 18.8% income

very comfortable

Software Developer

Avg $133,967/yr · Rent = 10.5% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $171,176/yr · Rent = 8.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $60,926/yr · Rent = 23.1% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $55,009/yr · Rent = 25.6% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $67,803/yr · Rent = 20.7% income

affordable

By apartment size

Grand Forks rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Grand Forks. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Grand Forks

About renting in Grand Forks, ND

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Grand Forks is $1,172/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $780/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $985/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $785/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,385/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($63,627/yr), Grand Forks ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Grand Forks an affordable city for renters?

Grand Forks is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,172/mo, rent takes approximately 22% of the local median household income ($63,627/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Grand Forks falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Grand Forks?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $47,000/year (~$23/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,172/mo in Grand Forks. The local median household income is $63,627/yr, meaning the typical Grand Forks household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Grand Forks?

Rent in Grand Forks has increased 3.6% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Grand Forks neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Grand Forks are 58201 ($1,163/mo), and 58203 ($1,247/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Grand Forks is $1,172/mo.

How does Grand Forks rent compare to other cities in North Dakota?

Grand Forks is middle-of-the-pack for North Dakota for rent, ranking #7 out of 11 tracked cities at $1,172/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Grand Forks?

Fargo is nearby and more affordable at $1,088/mo, which is $84 less than Grand Forks.

What percentage of Grand Forks residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 53.6% of Grand Forks households are renters, while 46.4% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Grand Forks has a strong rental market.

How does Grand Forks rent compare to the national average?

Grand Forks's median rent of $1,172/mo is $793 (40%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within North Dakota, it ranks #7 out of 11 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

22%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,172/mo, rent takes ~22% of Grand Forks's median household income ($63,627/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Grand Forks 22%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1.1–2.5%

Run the Grand Forks affordability calculator →

Nearby cities