Rents are 18% below what Williston'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 $1,288 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
December. Asking rents in Williston usually run 0.7% below trend in December and 0.7% above it in July, about $18 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Williston is 5.1% below its high of $1,357 in August 2025, at $1,288 as of September 2026.
Rent has fallen 9 months in a row, and rose in 2 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($79,381) is $1,985 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,950).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Williston. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Williston, ND is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, 25.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Williston, ND has changed in 5 years
Rent in Williston, ND has increased 50.8% since 2021, going from about $854 per month to roughly $1,288 today. Household income in the area moved from $75,061 to $79,381 across the same window, up 5.8% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 45.0 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 27,368 to 28,056 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.5% change. About 52.9% of households rent today, against 54.4% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Williston, ND look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Williston
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Williston on your salary?
At $1,288/mo, how Williston rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Williston rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Williston. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Williston
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Williston is $1,288/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,010/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,160/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,030/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,630/mo.
At 19% of local median household income ($79,381/yr), Williston ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 4.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Williston?
Is rent going up or down in Williston?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Williston?
How does Williston rent compare to other cities in North Dakota?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Williston?
At $1,288/mo, rent takes ~19% of Williston's median household income ($79,381/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 Williston.
No discussions yet.