Dale 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).

$9212-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8441-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$61,20080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$76,500Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Dale County is $921 a month, up 18.7% from $776 in FY2026. Dale County belongs to the Dale County, AL FMR area (non-metro county), 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 Dale County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$665	$603	+10.3%	$599 – $731
1 bedroom	$844	$690	+22.3%	$760 – $928
2 bedrooms	$921	$776	+18.7%	$829 – $1,013
3 bedrooms	$1,275	$1,079	+18.2%	$1,148 – $1,402
4 bedrooms	$1,539	$1,302	+18.2%	$1,386 – $1,692

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 Dale County that is typically $829 to $1,013 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?

$37,065median income of renter households

$889Median gross rent, all units

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

40%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $37,065 can afford about $927 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $921 is $6 (0.6%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $36,840 a year under the 30% rule, or $33,156 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Dale County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$889 ±$35
Median income of renter households	$37,065 ±$3,714
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	39.9% ±4.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	18.2% ±2.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	6,663

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$730	$889	+21.8%
Median renter household income	$34,593	$37,065	+7.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	39.8%	39.9%	+0.1 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.

HUD income limits for Dale County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $76,500 (FY2025: $75,400, +1.5%). 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%)	$16,100 +1.6%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$47,450 +1.5%	$50,500 +1.4%
Very low income (50%)	$26,800 +1.5%	$30,600 +1.3%	$34,450 +1.5%	$38,250 +1.5%	$41,350 +1.5%	$44,400 +1.5%	$47,450 +1.5%	$50,500 +1.4%
Low income (80%)	$42,850 +1.4%	$49,000 +1.6%	$55,100 +1.5%	$61,200 +1.5%	$66,100 +1.5%	$71,000 +1.5%	$75,900 +1.5%	$80,800 +1.5%

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.