Walker 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).

$9492-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7761-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$62,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$78,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Walker County is $949 a month, up 7.1% from $886 in FY2026. Walker County belongs to the Walker County, 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 Walker County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$684	$644	+6.2%	$616 – $752
1 bedroom	$776	$724	+7.2%	$699 – $853
2 bedrooms	$949	$886	+7.1%	$855 – $1,043
3 bedrooms	$1,314	$1,232	+6.7%	$1,183 – $1,445
4 bedrooms	$1,586	$1,481	+7.1%	$1,428 – $1,744

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 Walker County that is typically $855 to $1,043 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?

$28,604median income of renter households

$756Median gross rent, all units

32%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

41%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $28,604 can afford about $715 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $949 is $234 (32.7%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $37,960 a year under the 30% rule, or $34,164 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Walker County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$756 ±$61
Median income of renter households	$28,604 ±$5,636
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	40.6% ±5.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	17.8% ±4.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	4,555

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$626	$756	+20.8%
Median renter household income	$23,609	$28,604	+21.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	48.6%	40.6%	−8.0 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 $1,230 depending on the ZIP code.

All 22 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
35033	$930	$950	$1,230	$1,620	$1,890
35038	$680	$780	$950	$1,320	$1,590
35062	$740	$810	$920	$1,200	$1,380
35063	$800	$890	$1,070	$1,460	$1,740
35130	$730	$810	$920	$1,230	$1,450
35148	$810	$920	$1,120	$1,550	$1,870
35501	$710	$810	$990	$1,370	$1,650
35502	$680	$780	$950	$1,320	$1,590
35503	$690	$790	$960	$1,330	$1,600
35504	$690	$780	$960	$1,330	$1,600
35541	$820	$910	$1,050	$1,450	$1,600
35546	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,400
35549	$670	$760	$920	$1,280	$1,530
35550	$660	$750	$920	$1,280	$1,540
35554	$730	$820	$990	$1,370	$1,600
35573	$670	$760	$920	$1,280	$1,530
35578	$860	$970	$1,170	$1,620	$1,920
35579	$870	$880	$1,060	$1,350	$1,540
35580	$740	$840	$1,030	$1,430	$1,720
35584	$840	$950	$1,160	$1,610	$1,940
35587	$670	$760	$930	$1,300	$1,550

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

HUD income limits for Walker County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $78,100 (FY2025: $77,900, +0.3%). 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%)	$16,450 +0.6%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$48,450 +0.3%	$51,550 +0.2%
Very low income (50%)	$27,350 +0.2%	$31,250 +0.2%	$35,150 +0.1%	$39,050 +0.3%	$42,200 +0.2%	$45,300 +0.2%	$48,450 +0.3%	$51,550 +0.2%
Low income (80%)	$43,750 +0.2%	$50,000 +0.3%	$56,250 +0.3%	$62,500 +0.3%	$67,500 +0.3%	$72,500 +0.3%	$77,500 +0.3%	$82,500 +0.3%

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.