Lauderdale 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).

$1,0852-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8341-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$72,45080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$95,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Lauderdale County is $1,085 a month, up 8.5% from $1,000 in FY2026. Lauderdale County belongs to the Florence-Muscle Shoals, 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 Lauderdale County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$760	$698	+8.9%	$684 – $836
1 bedroom	$834	$775	+7.6%	$751 – $917
2 bedrooms	$1,085	$1,000	+8.5%	$977 – $1,193
3 bedrooms	$1,348	$1,242	+8.5%	$1,214 – $1,482
4 bedrooms	$1,426	$1,409	+1.2%	$1,284 – $1,568

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 Lauderdale County that is typically $977 to $1,193 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?

$36,937median income of renter households

$838Median gross rent, all units

27%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

38%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $36,937 can afford about $923 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,085 is $162 (17.5%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $43,400 a year under the 30% rule, or $39,060 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Lauderdale County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$838 ±$24
Median income of renter households	$36,937 ±$3,908
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	37.5% ±4.3
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	18.2% ±3.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	10,219

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$663	$838	+26.4%
Median renter household income	$27,212	$36,937	+35.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	41.4%	37.5%	−3.9 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 $1,260 depending on the ZIP code.

All 22 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
35582	$750	$850	$920	$1,200	$1,270
35610	$930	$1,030	$1,180	$1,530	$1,900
35614	$980	$1,040	$1,180	$1,530	$1,970
35616	$720	$790	$1,030	$1,280	$1,350
35630	$790	$870	$1,130	$1,400	$1,490
35631	$750	$820	$1,070	$1,330	$1,410
35632	$790	$870	$1,130	$1,400	$1,490
35633	$750	$820	$1,070	$1,330	$1,410
35634	$820	$900	$1,170	$1,450	$1,540
35645	$880	$970	$1,260	$1,570	$1,660
35646	$690	$760	$990	$1,230	$1,300
35648	$650	$710	$920	$1,140	$1,270
35652	$930	$1,030	$1,180	$1,530	$1,900
35653	$810	$920	$1,000	$1,300	$1,310
35654	$740	$830	$920	$1,190	$1,400
35660	$760	$840	$1,090	$1,350	$1,430
35661	$870	$950	$1,240	$1,540	$1,630
35662	$780	$860	$1,120	$1,390	$1,470
35672	$750	$750	$920	$1,180	$1,520
35674	$720	$790	$1,030	$1,280	$1,350
35677	$740	$780	$1,020	$1,270	$1,350
38852	$700	$700	$920	$1,130	$1,270

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

HUD income limits for Lauderdale County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $95,900 (FY2025: $82,400, +16.4%). 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%)	$19,050 +10.1%	$21,800 +3.1%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$31,700 +9.9%	$36,250 +9.8%	$40,800 +10.0%	$45,300 +10.0%	$48,950 +10.0%	$52,550 +9.9%	$56,200 +10.0%	$59,800 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$50,750 +10.0%	$58,000 +10.0%	$65,250 +9.9%	$72,450 +9.9%	$78,250 +9.9%	$84,050 +9.9%	$89,850 +9.9%	$95,650 +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.