Marengo 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

$8191-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$67,10080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$83,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Marengo County is $921 a month, up 17.6% from $783 in FY2026. Marengo County belongs to the Marengo 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 Marengo County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$812	$582	+39.5%	$731 – $893
1 bedroom	$819	$693	+18.2%	$738 – $900
2 bedrooms	$921	$783	+17.6%	$829 – $1,013
3 bedrooms	$1,219	$1,018	+19.7%	$1,098 – $1,340
4 bedrooms	$1,280	$1,187	+7.8%	$1,152 – $1,408

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 Marengo 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?

$21,383median income of renter households

$716Median gross rent, all units

40%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

54%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $21,383 can afford about $535 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $921 is $386 (72.3%) more 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.

Marengo County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$716 ±$69
Median income of renter households	$21,383 ±$4,365
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	54.2% ±9.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	22.0% ±7.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,920

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$563	$716	+27.2%
Median renter household income	$16,518	$21,383	+29.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	58.3%	54.2%	−4.1 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 Marengo County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $83,900 (FY2025: $78,600, +6.7%). 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%)	$17,650 +8.0%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +3.8%	$55,400 +8.0%
Very low income (50%)	$29,400 +8.1%	$33,600 +8.0%	$37,800 +8.0%	$41,950 +8.0%	$45,350 +8.1%	$48,700 +8.0%	$52,050 +8.0%	$55,400 +8.0%
Low income (80%)	$47,000 +7.9%	$53,700 +7.9%	$60,400 +8.0%	$67,100 +8.0%	$72,500 +8.0%	$77,850 +8.0%	$83,250 +8.0%	$88,600 +8.0%

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.