Craighead 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).

$1,0792-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8951-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$60,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$75,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Craighead County is $1,079 a month, up 3.8% from $1,040 in FY2026. Craighead County belongs to the Jonesboro, AR 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 Craighead County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$889	$805	+10.4%	$801 – $977
1 bedroom	$895	$870	+2.9%	$806 – $984
2 bedrooms	$1,079	$1,040	+3.8%	$972 – $1,186
3 bedrooms	$1,418	$1,402	+1.1%	$1,277 – $1,559
4 bedrooms	$1,424	$1,480	−3.8%	$1,282 – $1,566

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 Craighead County that is typically $972 to $1,186 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?

$36,677median income of renter households

$958Median gross rent, all units

31%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 $36,677 can afford about $917 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,079 is $162 (17.7%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $43,160 a year under the 30% rule, or $38,844 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Craighead County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$958 ±$24
Median income of renter households	$36,677 ±$2,197
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	51.0% ±4.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	26.6% ±3.5
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	15,952

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$757	$958	+26.6%
Median renter household income	$29,168	$36,677	+25.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	45.8%	51.0%	+5.2 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 $940 to $1,210 depending on the ZIP code.

All 21 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
72401	$860	$860	$1,040	$1,370	$1,380
72402	$890	$900	$1,080	$1,420	$1,420
72403	$890	$900	$1,080	$1,420	$1,420
72404	$900	$900	$1,090	$1,430	$1,440
72405	$1,000	$1,000	$1,210	$1,590	$1,600
72411	$970	$980	$1,180	$1,550	$1,560
72414	$750	$790	$940	$1,270	$1,340
72416	$840	$850	$1,030	$1,350	$1,370
72417	$920	$930	$1,120	$1,470	$1,480
72419	$750	$790	$940	$1,270	$1,340
72421	$790	$790	$980	$1,290	$1,340
72427	$730	$790	$940	$1,270	$1,550
72437	$790	$800	$960	$1,270	$1,340
72438	$730	$790	$1,020	$1,320	$1,410
72442	$730	$790	$940	$1,270	$1,340
72447	$750	$790	$940	$1,270	$1,340
72450	$730	$800	$960	$1,320	$1,600
72467	$890	$890	$1,070	$1,410	$1,420
72472	$750	$790	$990	$1,300	$1,340
72476	$730	$790	$940	$1,270	$1,550
72479	$730	$790	$940	$1,270	$1,340

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

HUD income limits for Craighead County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $75,600 (FY2025: $79,300, −4.7%). 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%)	$15,960 −4.4%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$43,850 +1.6%	$46,900 −3.6%	$49,900 −4.7%
Very low income (50%)	$26,500 −4.7%	$30,250 −4.7%	$34,050 −4.6%	$37,800 −4.7%	$40,850 −4.7%	$43,850 −4.7%	$46,900 −4.7%	$49,900 −4.7%
Low income (80%)	$42,350 −4.7%	$48,400 −4.7%	$54,450 −4.7%	$60,500 −4.6%	$65,350 −4.7%	$70,200 −4.7%	$75,050 −4.6%	$79,900 −4.7%

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.