FY2027 Small Area FMR · Watkins, MN
ZIP 55389 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards
HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 55389 (Watkins, MN) is $1,090 a month, up 4.8% from FY2026. That is 12% below the St. Cloud, MN area-wide FMR of $1,233.
Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms
Housing agencies may set voucher payment standards anywhere from 90% to 110% of the FMR without asking HUD.
FY2027 FY2026
Where 55389 sits in the St. Cloud, MN area
Of the 45 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 55389 has the 31st highest two-bedroom Small Area FMR. St. Cloud, MN is not on HUD's list of mandatory Small Area FMR areas, so voucher payment standards here are normally based on the area-wide FMR of $1,233 for two bedrooms; an agency that opts in to Small Area FMRs would use $1,090 for this ZIP code instead.
ZIP code 55389 crosses more than one HUD area. HUD also lists it under Meeker County, MN (same figures). The figure that applies depends on which side of the line the home is.
All unit sizes
| Unit | FY2027 SAFMR | Payment standard range | Area-wide FMR | FY2026 SAFMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $790 | $711 – $869 | $884 | $780 |
| 1 bedroom | $930 | $837 – $1,023 | $961 | $820 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,090 | $981 – $1,199 | $1,233 | $1,040 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,470 | $1,323 – $1,617 | $1,656 | $1,360 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,690 | $1,521 – $1,859 | $1,961 | $1,620 |
A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $1,090 needs about $43,600 a year to keep housing costs at 30% of income. The area median family income is $107,100 and the 80% low-income limit for four people is $85,700. ZIP code 55389 lies mainly in Meeker County and Stearns County. See the St. Cloud, MN metro page for the full income limits table and the household check.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions
What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 55389?
HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 55389 are $790 (studio), $930 (1 BR), $1,090 (2 BR), $1,470 (3 BR) and $1,690 (4 BR) a month.
What is the Section 8 payment standard in 55389?
Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 55389 that range is $981 to $1,199 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.
Which income limits apply in 55389?
The FY2026 income limits of the St. Cloud, MN area apply: median family income $107,100, low-income (80%) limit $85,700 for a family of four.