Houston 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).

$9662-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7681-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$63,45080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$79,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Houston County is $966 a month, up 1.7% from $950 in FY2026. Houston County belongs to the Dothan, AL HUD Metro FMR Area 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 Houston County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$763	$757	+0.8%	$687 – $839
1 bedroom	$768	$762	+0.8%	$692 – $844
2 bedrooms	$966	$950	+1.7%	$870 – $1,062
3 bedrooms	$1,291	$1,288	+0.2%	$1,162 – $1,420
4 bedrooms	$1,415	$1,428	−0.9%	$1,274 – $1,556

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 Houston County that is typically $870 to $1,062 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?

$38,943median income of renter households

$945Median gross rent, all units

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

46%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $38,943 can afford about $974 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $966 is $8 (0.8%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $38,640 a year under the 30% rule, or $34,776 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Houston County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$945 ±$17
Median income of renter households	$38,943 ±$1,555
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	46.0% ±2.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	22.5% ±1.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	14,170

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$754	$945	+25.3%
Median renter household income	$29,733	$38,943	+31.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	46.0%	46.0%	+0.0 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 $1,250 depending on the ZIP code.

All 27 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
36301	$730	$730	$920	$1,230	$1,350
36302	$780	$790	$990	$1,320	$1,450
36303	$760	$770	$960	$1,290	$1,420
36304	$780	$790	$990	$1,320	$1,450
36305	$990	$990	$1,250	$1,670	$1,830
36312	$730	$730	$920	$1,230	$1,350
36313	$790	$850	$1,040	$1,430	$1,590
36314	$750	$760	$940	$1,240	$1,340
36316	$850	$860	$1,100	$1,500	$1,610
36318	$710	$720	$920	$1,250	$1,350
36319	$710	$720	$920	$1,170	$1,320
36320	$740	$750	$940	$1,260	$1,380
36321	$730	$740	$930	$1,240	$1,360
36322	$690	$840	$920	$1,280	$1,540
36340	$730	$730	$920	$1,230	$1,350
36343	$770	$770	$970	$1,300	$1,420
36344	$730	$730	$920	$1,230	$1,350
36345	$700	$720	$920	$1,160	$1,310
36350	$690	$830	$920	$1,270	$1,520
36352	$700	$780	$920	$1,250	$1,420
36370	$730	$730	$920	$1,230	$1,350
36375	$730	$730	$920	$1,230	$1,350
36376	$730	$730	$920	$1,230	$1,350
36442	$760	$770	$980	$1,260	$1,640
36453	$710	$720	$920	$1,260	$1,340
36467	$710	$720	$920	$1,180	$1,540
36477	$730	$730	$920	$1,230	$1,350

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

HUD income limits for Houston County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $79,300 (FY2025: $78,200, +1.4%). 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%)	$16,700 +1.5%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$49,200 +1.4%	$52,350 +1.4%
Very low income (50%)	$27,800 +1.5%	$31,750 +1.4%	$35,700 +1.4%	$39,650 +1.4%	$42,850 +1.4%	$46,000 +1.3%	$49,200 +1.4%	$52,350 +1.4%
Low income (80%)	$44,450 +1.5%	$50,800 +1.5%	$57,150 +1.5%	$63,450 +1.4%	$68,550 +1.4%	$73,650 +1.4%	$78,700 +1.4%	$83,800 +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.