Baldwin County, AL: Fair Market Rent 2027 and Income Limits

Official HUD figures for landlords and renters, effective October 1, 2026 (rents) and May 1, 2026 (income limits).

$1,4342-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,3171-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$81,80080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$102,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Baldwin County is $1,434 a month, up 6.6% from $1,345 in FY2026. Baldwin County belongs to the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL MSA FMR area, so the same figures apply across that area. FMRs are gross rents: rent plus all tenant-paid utilities except phone, cable and internet.

Fair market rent in Baldwin County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,180	$1,094	+7.9%	$1,062 – $1,298
1 bedroom	$1,317	$1,200	+9.8%	$1,186 – $1,448
2 bedrooms	$1,434	$1,345	+6.6%	$1,291 – $1,577
3 bedrooms	$1,855	$1,692	+9.6%	$1,670 – $2,040
4 bedrooms	$2,347	$2,171	+8.1%	$2,113 – $2,581

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026) and FY2026 (revised file), details.

What can a landlord charge a Section 8 tenant here?

The FMR is not a cap on what you can ask on the open market. For a Housing Choice Voucher tenant, the local housing authority sets a payment standard, normally between 90% and 110% of the FMR (or of the ZIP-level Small Area FMR where those apply). For a two-bedroom unit in Baldwin County that is typically $1,291 to $1,577 including utilities. You can charge more than the payment standard if the rent passes the housing authority's rent-reasonableness test and, at move-in, the tenant's share stays within 40% of their adjusted monthly income. Ask the housing authority for its current payment standard schedule.

Can local renters afford the fair market rent?

$51,111median income of renter households

$1,277Median gross rent, all units

30%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

47%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $51,111 can afford about $1,278 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,434 is $156 (12.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $57,360 a year under the 30% rule, or $51,624 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Baldwin County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,277 ±$56
Median income of renter households	$51,111 ±$4,093
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	47.2% ±3.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	21.8% ±3.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	19,782

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,020	$1,277	+25.2%
Median renter household income	$39,291	$51,111	+30.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	46.9%	47.2%	+0.3 pts

Rent-to-income calculator: does an applicant qualify? → · Most affordable counties to rent in this state →

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2020–2024 and 2015–2019 (tables B25064, B25119, B25070). ± = margin of error at 90% confidence. Dollar figures are not adjusted for inflation.

Small Area FMRs by ZIP code (FY2027)

In metro areas HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area Fair Market Rents. Housing authorities in designated areas must use them for voucher payment standards; others may opt in. Here the two-bedroom SAFMR ranges from $1,220 to $1,680 depending on the ZIP code.

All 28 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
36480	$990	$1,080	$1,220	$1,530	$1,960
36502	$990	$1,080	$1,220	$1,530	$1,960
36507	$990	$1,080	$1,220	$1,530	$1,960
36511	$1,150	$1,270	$1,390	$1,800	$2,280
36526	$1,320	$1,470	$1,600	$2,070	$2,620
36527	$1,340	$1,500	$1,630	$2,110	$2,670
36530	$1,010	$1,130	$1,230	$1,590	$2,010
36532	$1,380	$1,540	$1,680	$2,170	$2,750
36533	$1,180	$1,310	$1,430	$1,850	$2,340
36535	$1,090	$1,210	$1,320	$1,710	$2,160
36536	$1,180	$1,310	$1,430	$1,850	$2,340
36542	$1,280	$1,430	$1,560	$2,020	$2,550
36547	$1,320	$1,480	$1,610	$2,090	$2,640
36549	$1,090	$1,250	$1,390	$1,820	$2,230
36550	$1,180	$1,310	$1,430	$1,850	$2,340
36551	$1,130	$1,260	$1,370	$1,770	$2,240
36555	$1,090	$1,210	$1,320	$1,710	$2,160
36559	$1,350	$1,510	$1,640	$2,120	$2,690
36561	$1,340	$1,500	$1,630	$2,110	$2,670
36562	$990	$1,080	$1,220	$1,530	$1,960
36564	$1,180	$1,310	$1,430	$1,850	$2,340
36567	$1,000	$1,110	$1,220	$1,570	$1,980
36574	$990	$1,080	$1,220	$1,530	$1,960
36576	$1,000	$1,120	$1,220	$1,580	$2,000
36577	$1,180	$1,310	$1,430	$1,850	$2,340
36578	$1,020	$1,140	$1,240	$1,600	$2,030
36579	$990	$1,080	$1,220	$1,530	$1,960
36580	$990	$1,080	$1,220	$1,530	$1,960

Source: HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs (effective October 1, 2026).

HUD income limits for Baldwin County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $102,400 (FY2025: $93,000, +10.1%). Small figures under each limit show the change from FY2025.

Household size	1 person	2 people	3 people	4 people	5 people	6 people	7 people	8 people
Extremely low income (30%)	$21,500 +10.0%	$24,600 +10.1%	$27,650 +3.8%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$35,800 +10.0%	$40,900 +9.9%	$46,000 +9.9%	$51,150 +10.0%	$55,250 +10.0%	$59,300 +9.9%	$63,450 +10.0%	$67,500 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$57,300 +10.0%	$65,450 +9.9%	$73,650 +9.9%	$81,800 +9.9%	$88,350 +9.9%	$94,900 +9.9%	$101,450 +9.9%	$108,000 +9.9%

The 30% limit is HUD's “extremely low income” limit: the higher of 30% of median income or the federal poverty guideline, but never above the 50% limit. That is why it can rise faster than 30% of median for larger households. Tax-credit (LIHTC) properties use separate Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits.

Source: HUD Section 8 Income Limits FY2026 (effective May 1, 2026) and FY2025, details.