Tuscaloosa 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).

$1,1652-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9751-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$74,40080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$93,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Tuscaloosa County is $1,165 a month, down 0.3% from $1,169 in FY2026. Tuscaloosa County belongs to the Tuscaloosa, 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 Tuscaloosa County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$970	$966	+0.4%	$873 – $1,067
1 bedroom	$975	$972	+0.3%	$878 – $1,072
2 bedrooms	$1,165	$1,169	−0.3%	$1,049 – $1,281
3 bedrooms	$1,470	$1,490	−1.3%	$1,323 – $1,617
4 bedrooms	$1,531	$1,548	−1.1%	$1,378 – $1,684

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 Tuscaloosa County that is typically $1,049 to $1,281 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?

$36,149median income of renter households

$1,037Median gross rent, all units

34%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

51%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $36,149 can afford about $904 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,165 is $261 (28.9%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $46,600 a year under the 30% rule, or $41,940 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Tuscaloosa County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,037 ±$23
Median income of renter households	$36,149 ±$1,511
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	51.4% ±2.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	29.5% ±2.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	31,433

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$846	$1,037	+22.6%
Median renter household income	$30,332	$36,149	+19.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	51.6%	51.4%	−0.2 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 $1,560 depending on the ZIP code.

All 42 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
35006	$790	$840	$920	$1,160	$1,300
35111	$1,090	$1,140	$1,300	$1,630	$1,760
35184	$890	$950	$1,040	$1,300	$1,460
35188	$950	$1,020	$1,120	$1,400	$1,570
35401	$930	$940	$1,120	$1,410	$1,470
35402	$980	$990	$1,180	$1,490	$1,550
35403	$980	$990	$1,180	$1,490	$1,550
35404	$980	$990	$1,180	$1,490	$1,550
35405	$1,070	$1,070	$1,280	$1,610	$1,680
35406	$1,300	$1,310	$1,560	$1,970	$2,050
35407	$980	$990	$1,180	$1,490	$1,550
35441	$940	$940	$1,160	$1,430	$1,520
35444	$1,060	$1,060	$1,270	$1,600	$1,670
35446	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,400
35449	$980	$990	$1,180	$1,490	$1,550
35452	$1,210	$1,210	$1,450	$1,830	$1,910
35453	$920	$920	$1,100	$1,390	$1,450
35456	$1,020	$1,030	$1,230	$1,550	$1,620
35457	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,400
35458	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,400
35463	$990	$990	$1,190	$1,500	$1,570
35466	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,410
35469	$920	$920	$1,170	$1,420	$1,530
35473	$920	$930	$1,110	$1,400	$1,460
35474	$1,010	$1,010	$1,210	$1,530	$1,590
35475	$920	$930	$1,110	$1,400	$1,460
35476	$940	$950	$1,130	$1,430	$1,490
35480	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,400
35486	$980	$990	$1,180	$1,490	$1,550
35487	$930	$940	$1,120	$1,410	$1,470
35490	$910	$910	$1,090	$1,370	$1,430
35546	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,400
35555	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,400
35574	$870	$880	$1,100	$1,410	$1,530
35579	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,540
36738	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,400
36742	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,400
36744	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,400
36756	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,400
36765	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,400
36776	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,400
36786	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,400

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

HUD income limits for Tuscaloosa County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $93,000 (FY2025: $91,100, +2.1%). 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%)	$19,550 +2.1%	$22,350 +2.1%	$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%)	$32,550 +2.0%	$37,200 +2.1%	$41,850 +2.1%	$46,500 +2.1%	$50,250 +2.1%	$53,950 +2.1%	$57,700 +2.1%	$61,400 +2.1%
Low income (80%)	$52,100 +2.1%	$59,550 +2.1%	$67,000 +2.1%	$74,400 +2.1%	$80,400 +2.1%	$86,350 +2.1%	$92,300 +2.1%	$98,250 +2.1%

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.