City Report · WI

Hudson

Pop. 14,959·8th most expensive in Wisconsin·Hudson rents are up 6.9% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,805/mo
Year-over-Year
+6.9%
Month-over-Month
+0.9%
vs US Median
-$127
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Hudson · $1,805
More affordable than 53% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
23% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,805/mo, rent takes about 23% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$72,000/yr
Local median income
$93,937/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Hudson's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,250
1 BR
$1,420
2 BR
$1,730
3 BR
$2,300
4 BR+
$2,580
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,730/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,805 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Wisconsin

Rent in Hudson changed +6.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 42 Wisconsin cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.3%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($93,937) is $2,348 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,300); a 4-bedroom is $2,580.

Cheaper nearby

New Richmond, 13 miles away, rents for 10% less ($1,619/mo), about $2,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Hudson. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$21,660/yr
At $1,805/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 6.9% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+6.9% YoY, +0.9% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Hudson, WI is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 43.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
14,959
Median income
$93,937
Median age
38.1
Renters
33.5%
Age distribution
19.8%
24%
26.4%
19.5%
Under 1819.8%
18–3424%
35–5426.4%
55–6410.3%
65+19.5%
Gender
49.9%
50.1%
Male49.9%
Female50.1%
Race & ethnicity
89%
White89%
Black1.1%
Hispanic4.6%
Asian1.6%
Other3.7%
Education (25+)
22.8%
29.8%
43.1%
No HS diploma4.2%
HS diploma22.8%
Some college29.8%
Bachelor's+43.1%
Housing tenure
66.5%
33.5%
Owner66.5%
Renter33.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Hudson, WI has changed in 5 years

Income
$85,521 → $93,937
up 9.8%
Population
14,500 → 14,959
up 3.2%
Renter share
31.5% → 33.5%
+2.0 pts
Bachelor's+
45.3% → 43.1%
-2.2 pts
Median age
39.7 → 38.1
-1.6 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $85,521 in 2021 to $93,937 more recently. Headcount in the area went from 14,500 to 14,959 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.2% change. About 33.5% of households rent today, against 31.5% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher slipped from 45.3% to 43.1%.

Community

Discussions about Hudson

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View Hudson rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Hudson on your salary?

At $1,805/mo, how Hudson rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Hudson rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Hudson

About renting in Hudson, WI

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Hudson is $1,805/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,250/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,730/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,420/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,300/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($93,937/yr), Hudson ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Hudson?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $72,000/year (about $35/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,805/mo in Hudson. The local median household income is $93,937/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Hudson?

Rent in Hudson has risen 6.9% over the past year.

How does Hudson rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?

Hudson is one of the pricier among Wisconsin cities for rent, ranking #8 of 56 tracked cities at $1,805/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Hudson changed +6.9%, against a typical +5.3% across the 42 Wisconsin cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Hudson?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Hudson ($1,805/mo) include New Richmond ($1,619/mo), and River Falls ($1,771/mo).
Income Affordability
23%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,805/mo, rent takes ~23% of Hudson's median household income ($93,937/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Hudson 23%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3.5–7.65%
Run the Hudson affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Hudson
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Hudson, WI

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