Carroll County, AR: 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).

$1,0052-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7681-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$62,10080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$77,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Carroll County is $1,005 a month, up 5.3% from $954 in FY2026. Carroll County belongs to the Carroll County, AR 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 Carroll County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$700	$658	+6.4%	$630 – $770
1 bedroom	$768	$742	+3.5%	$692 – $844
2 bedrooms	$1,005	$954	+5.3%	$905 – $1,105
3 bedrooms	$1,199	$1,144	+4.8%	$1,080 – $1,318
4 bedrooms	$1,409	$1,345	+4.8%	$1,269 – $1,549

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 Carroll County that is typically $905 to $1,105 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?

$34,497median income of renter households

$856Median gross rent, all units

30%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

48%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $34,497 can afford about $862 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,005 is $143 (16.5%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,200 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,180 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Carroll County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$856 ±$64
Median income of renter households	$34,497 ±$4,393
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	48.0% ±8.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	18.0% ±5.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	2,108

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$610	$856	+40.3%
Median renter household income	$33,140	$34,497	+4.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	33.8%	48.0%	+14.2 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.

HUD income limits for Carroll County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $77,600 (FY2025: $79,800, −2.8%). 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%)	$16,350 −2.7%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$48,150 −1.0%	$51,250 −2.8%
Very low income (50%)	$27,200 −2.7%	$31,050 −2.8%	$34,950 −2.8%	$38,800 −2.8%	$41,950 −2.7%	$45,050 −2.7%	$48,150 −2.7%	$51,250 −2.8%
Low income (80%)	$43,500 −2.7%	$49,700 −2.7%	$55,900 −2.8%	$62,100 −2.7%	$67,100 −2.8%	$72,050 −2.8%	$77,050 −2.7%	$82,000 −2.7%

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.