Clay County, MN at a glance
Median household income
$81,172$6,764 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Clay 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 Clay County, MN? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Fargo, ND-MN 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 | $768 | $9,216 | $30,720 | 11.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $917 | $11,004 | $36,680 | 13.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,112 | $13,344 | $44,480 | 16.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,547 | $18,564 | $61,880 | 22.9% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,865 | $22,380 | $74,600 | 27.6% |
What a typical income covers in Clay County, MN
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $81,172 a year ($6,764 a month before tax).
What $81,172 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 Clay County, MN: common questions
What is the median household income in Clay County, MN?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Clay County, MN is $81,172 per year (approximately $6,764 per month).
What is the average rent in Clay County, MN?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $768 for a studio, $917 for one bedroom, $1,112 for two, $1,547 for three and $1,865 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 Clay County, MN expensive to live in?
Prices there run 9.1% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 90.9, 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 Clay County, MN?
To keep a $1,112 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $44,480 a year, or $3,707 a month. That is 55% of what the typical household in Clay County, MN earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Clay County, MN?
On the local median income of $81,172 ($6,764 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,382 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,029 for everything else and $1,353 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,112 takes 33% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Clay 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.