The Minnesota rental market
Minnesota tracks median rent across 68 cities, ranging from Bemidji at $1,023/mo to Wayzata at $2,791/mo. The state average of $1,686/mo runs about 13% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Across Minnesota cities, rents are rising, changing an average of +3.6% over the past year. 15 of 70 tracked cities are priced above the national median, while 55 fall below it. The largest rental markets are Minneapolis, Rochester, Bloomington.
What the numbers show
Rent fell in 3 of 68 Minnesota cities Zillow tracks over the year to September 2026, and rose in the rest.
28 cities are at the highest rent in at least three years of Zillow records. See the list.
Among cities with 15,000+ residents, Maple Grove ($2,198/mo) costs 2.1 times as much as Bemidji ($1,023/mo).
Across 24 Minnesota cities with five or more years of data, asking rents usually bottom out in December and peak in July, a typical swing of 1.7%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent grew faster than median household income in 6 of 13 Minnesota cities with both figures. See where the gap is widest.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Minnesota cities, as of September 2026. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates).
Minnesota rent questions
What is the average rent in Minnesota?
The average median rent across 68 tracked cities in Minnesota is $1,686/mo, about 13% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Which Minnesota city has the highest rent?
Wayzata has the highest median rent in Minnesota at $2,791/mo.
Which Minnesota city has the most affordable rent?
Bemidji is the most affordable tracked city in Minnesota, with a median rent of $1,023/mo.
Are rents rising or falling in Minnesota?
Across Minnesota cities, median rents are rising, changing an average of +3.6% over the past year.
How does Minnesota rent compare to the rest of the country?
15 of 70 tracked Minnesota cities have a median rent above the national median of $1,932/mo, and 55 fall below it.
What are the largest rental markets in Minnesota?
By population, the largest rental markets in Minnesota are Minneapolis, Rochester, Bloomington. Each has its own rent data, trends, and ZIP-level breakdowns on RentDataNow.