FY2027 Small Area FMR · Brainerd, MN

ZIP 56401 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 56401 (Brainerd, MN) is $1,100 a month, up 3.8% from FY2026. That is 8% above the Cass County, MN area-wide FMR of $1,014.

2-bedroom SAFMR$1,100per month ▲ 3.8%

Area-wide 2 BR FMR$1,014Cass County, MN

Rank in the area9thof 25 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$990

2 BR Small Area FMR$1,100

110% of SAFMR$1,210

Housing agencies may set voucher payment standards anywhere from 90% to 110% of the FMR without asking HUD.

Studio$770▲ 4.1%

1 BR$850▲ 4.9%

2 BR$1,100▲ 3.8%

3 BR$1,330▲ 3.9%

4 BR$1,530▲ 1.3%

FY2027 FY2026

Where 56401 sits in the Cass County, MN area

Of the 25 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 56401 has the 9th highest two-bedroom Small Area FMR. Cass County, 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 $1,014 for two bedrooms; an agency that opts in to Small Area FMRs would use $1,100 for this ZIP code instead.

ZIP code 56401 crosses more than one HUD area. HUD also lists it under Crow Wing County, MN (same figures). The figure that applies depends on which side of the line the home is.

All unit sizes

Monthly gross rent including utilities
Unit	FY2027 SAFMR	Payment standard range	Area-wide FMR	FY2026 SAFMR
Studio	$770	$693 – $847	$734	$740
1 bedroom	$850	$765 – $935	$775	$810
2 bedrooms	$1,100	$990 – $1,210	$1,014	$1,060
3 bedrooms	$1,330	$1,197 – $1,463	$1,335	$1,280
4 bedrooms	$1,530	$1,377 – $1,683	$1,695	$1,510

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $1,100 needs about $44,000 a year to keep housing costs at 30% of income. The area median family income is $88,300 and the 80% low-income limit for four people is $78,400. ZIP code 56401 lies mainly in Crow Wing County and Cass County. See the Cass County, MN county page for the full income limits table and the household check.

Nearby ZIP codes

ZIP	Place	Distance	2 BR SAFMR
56425	Baxter	7.3 mi	$1,360
56455	Ironton	10.1 mi	$1,280
56449	Fort Ripley	11.9 mi	$1,350
56444	Deerwood	13.7 mi	$1,160
56468	Nisswa	13.8 mi	$1,180
56465	Merrifield	14.8 mi	$1,120

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 56401?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 56401 are $770 (studio), $850 (1 BR), $1,100 (2 BR), $1,330 (3 BR) and $1,530 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 56401?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 56401 that range is $990 to $1,210 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 56401?

The FY2026 income limits of the Cass County, MN area apply: median family income $88,300, low-income (80%) limit $78,400 for a family of four.