Mobile 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).

$1,1392-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9811-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$66,65080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$83,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Mobile County is $1,139 a month, up 5.2% from $1,083 in FY2026. Mobile County belongs to the Mobile, 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 Mobile County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$938	$854	+9.8%	$845 – $1,031
1 bedroom	$981	$919	+6.7%	$883 – $1,079
2 bedrooms	$1,139	$1,083	+5.2%	$1,026 – $1,252
3 bedrooms	$1,474	$1,414	+4.2%	$1,327 – $1,621
4 bedrooms	$1,565	$1,445	+8.3%	$1,409 – $1,721

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 Mobile County that is typically $1,026 to $1,252 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?

$36,158median income of renter households

$1,052Median gross rent, all units

35%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

56%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $36,158 can afford about $904 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,139 is $235 (26.0%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $45,560 a year under the 30% rule, or $41,004 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Mobile County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,052 ±$22
Median income of renter households	$36,158 ±$1,743
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	55.6% ±2.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	27.7% ±2.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	48,343

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$853	$1,052	+23.3%
Median renter household income	$27,306	$36,158	+32.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	52.8%	55.6%	+2.8 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 $1,710 depending on the ZIP code.

All 50 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
36505	$970	$1,080	$1,300	$1,710	$1,730
36509	$760	$790	$920	$1,190	$1,270
36512	$940	$980	$1,140	$1,480	$1,570
36513	$880	$910	$1,070	$1,380	$1,510
36521	$850	$890	$1,030	$1,330	$1,420
36522	$800	$840	$980	$1,270	$1,370
36523	$960	$1,010	$1,170	$1,510	$1,610
36525	$890	$930	$1,080	$1,400	$1,480
36528	$1,410	$1,470	$1,710	$2,210	$2,350
36541	$850	$890	$1,030	$1,330	$1,420
36544	$760	$790	$920	$1,190	$1,270
36560	$910	$950	$1,100	$1,420	$1,510
36568	$830	$860	$1,000	$1,290	$1,380
36571	$940	$980	$1,140	$1,480	$1,570
36572	$1,140	$1,190	$1,380	$1,790	$1,900
36575	$1,000	$1,040	$1,210	$1,570	$1,660
36582	$820	$860	$1,000	$1,290	$1,370
36587	$920	$960	$1,120	$1,450	$1,540
36590	$940	$980	$1,140	$1,480	$1,570
36601	$940	$980	$1,140	$1,480	$1,570
36602	$930	$970	$1,130	$1,460	$1,550
36603	$760	$790	$920	$1,190	$1,270
36604	$820	$850	$990	$1,280	$1,360
36605	$960	$1,000	$1,160	$1,500	$1,590
36606	$860	$900	$1,050	$1,360	$1,440
36607	$910	$960	$1,110	$1,440	$1,530
36608	$1,080	$1,130	$1,310	$1,700	$1,800
36609	$960	$1,000	$1,160	$1,500	$1,590
36610	$760	$790	$920	$1,190	$1,270
36611	$890	$930	$1,080	$1,400	$1,480
36612	$760	$790	$920	$1,190	$1,270
36613	$1,090	$1,140	$1,320	$1,710	$1,810
36615	$940	$980	$1,140	$1,480	$1,570
36616	$940	$980	$1,140	$1,480	$1,570
36617	$960	$1,010	$1,170	$1,510	$1,610
36618	$1,030	$1,080	$1,250	$1,620	$1,720
36619	$1,000	$1,040	$1,210	$1,570	$1,660
36633	$940	$980	$1,140	$1,480	$1,570
36640	$940	$980	$1,140	$1,480	$1,570
36652	$900	$950	$1,100	$1,420	$1,510
36660	$940	$980	$1,140	$1,480	$1,570
36663	$850	$890	$1,040	$1,340	$1,430
36670	$940	$980	$1,140	$1,480	$1,570
36671	$940	$980	$1,140	$1,480	$1,570
36685	$940	$980	$1,140	$1,480	$1,570
36688	$1,080	$1,130	$1,310	$1,700	$1,800
36689	$940	$980	$1,140	$1,480	$1,570
36691	$940	$980	$1,140	$1,480	$1,570
36693	$990	$1,030	$1,200	$1,550	$1,650
36695	$1,100	$1,150	$1,330	$1,720	$1,830

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

HUD income limits for Mobile County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $83,300 (FY2025: $81,500, +2.2%). 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%)	$17,500 +2.0%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,000 +2.2%
Very low income (50%)	$29,200 +2.3%	$33,350 +2.3%	$37,500 +2.2%	$41,650 +2.2%	$45,000 +2.2%	$48,350 +2.2%	$51,650 +2.2%	$55,000 +2.2%
Low income (80%)	$46,700 +2.3%	$53,350 +2.2%	$60,000 +2.2%	$66,650 +2.2%	$72,000 +2.2%	$77,350 +2.2%	$82,650 +2.2%	$88,000 +2.2%

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.