Calhoun 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).

$1,0102-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8011-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$59,35080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$72,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Calhoun County is $1,010 a month, up 5.0% from $962 in FY2026. Calhoun County belongs to the Anniston-Oxford, 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 Calhoun County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$796	$753	+5.7%	$717 – $875
1 bedroom	$801	$757	+5.8%	$721 – $881
2 bedrooms	$1,010	$962	+5.0%	$909 – $1,111
3 bedrooms	$1,337	$1,300	+2.8%	$1,204 – $1,470
4 bedrooms	$1,341	$1,361	−1.5%	$1,207 – $1,475

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 Calhoun County that is typically $909 to $1,111 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?

$33,823median income of renter households

$826Median gross rent, all units

29%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

45%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $33,823 can afford about $846 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,010 is $164 (19.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,400 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,360 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Calhoun County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$826 ±$31
Median income of renter households	$33,823 ±$3,312
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	44.9% ±4.3
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	24.9% ±3.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	11,672

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$716	$826	+15.4%
Median renter household income	$28,817	$33,823	+17.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	45.5%	44.9%	−0.6 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 $920 to $1,320 depending on the ZIP code.

All 17 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
35096	$920	$960	$1,180	$1,550	$1,550
35905	$680	$780	$920	$1,170	$1,310
36201	$730	$730	$920	$1,220	$1,230
36202	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,340	$1,340
36203	$860	$870	$1,090	$1,440	$1,450
36204	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,340	$1,340
36205	$850	$850	$1,080	$1,430	$1,430
36206	$830	$830	$1,050	$1,390	$1,390
36207	$870	$880	$1,110	$1,470	$1,470
36250	$940	$940	$1,190	$1,580	$1,580
36257	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,340	$1,340
36260	$720	$740	$920	$1,220	$1,230
36265	$770	$780	$980	$1,300	$1,300
36271	$730	$730	$920	$1,220	$1,230
36272	$780	$790	$1,000	$1,290	$1,380
36277	$930	$940	$1,180	$1,560	$1,570
36279	$1,040	$1,050	$1,320	$1,750	$1,750

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

HUD income limits for Calhoun County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $72,300 (FY2025: $74,000, −2.3%). 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%)	$15,960 +2.0%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$43,050 +0.2%	$46,050 +0.3%	$49,000 +0.3%
Very low income (50%)	$26,000 +0.4%	$29,700 +0.3%	$33,400 +0.3%	$37,100 +0.3%	$40,100 +0.3%	$43,050 +0.2%	$46,050 +0.3%	$49,000 +0.3%
Low income (80%)	$41,550 +0.2%	$47,500 +0.2%	$53,450 +0.3%	$59,350 +0.3%	$64,100 +0.2%	$68,850 +0.2%	$73,600 +0.2%	$78,350 +0.3%

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.