Carlton County, MN at a glance
Median household income
$80,573$6,714 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Carlton County, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Carlton County, MN? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Duluth, MN-WI MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $849 | $10,188 | $33,960 | 12.6% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $978 | $11,736 | $39,120 | 14.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,232 | $14,784 | $49,280 | 18.3% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,689 | $20,268 | $67,560 | 25.2% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,067 | $24,804 | $82,680 | 30.8% |
What a typical income covers in Carlton County, MN
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $80,573 a year ($6,714 a month before tax).
What $80,573 leaves after Minnesota taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Minnesota tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Minnesota
Living in Carlton County, MN: common questions
What is the median household income in Carlton County, MN?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Carlton County, MN is $80,573 per year (approximately $6,714 per month).
What is the average rent in Carlton County, MN?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $849 for a studio, $978 for one bedroom, $1,232 for two, $1,689 for three and $2,067 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Carlton County, MN expensive to live in?
Prices there run 11.2% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 88.8, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Carlton County, MN?
To keep a $1,232 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $49,280 a year, or $4,107 a month. That is 61% of what the typical household in Carlton County, MN earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Carlton County, MN?
On the local median income of $80,573 ($6,714 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,357 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,014 for everything else and $1,343 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,232 takes 37% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Carlton County, MN?
Homes in Minnesota paid 17.5¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $158. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.