Garland 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).

$1,1102-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8631-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$64,30080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$81,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Garland County is $1,110 a month, up 1.8% from $1,090 in FY2026. Garland County belongs to the Hot Springs, AR 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 Garland County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$858	$829	+3.5%	$773 – $943
1 bedroom	$863	$834	+3.5%	$777 – $949
2 bedrooms	$1,110	$1,090	+1.8%	$999 – $1,221
3 bedrooms	$1,424	$1,393	+2.2%	$1,282 – $1,566
4 bedrooms	$1,599	$1,670	−4.3%	$1,440 – $1,758

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 Garland County that is typically $999 to $1,221 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?

$39,229median income of renter households

$966Median gross rent, all units

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

45%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $39,229 can afford about $981 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,110 is $129 (13.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $44,400 a year under the 30% rule, or $39,960 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Garland County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$966 ±$27
Median income of renter households	$39,229 ±$3,394
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	45.3% ±4.1
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	22.7% ±3.5
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	11,857

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$771	$966	+25.3%
Median renter household income	$29,573	$39,229	+32.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	49.8%	45.3%	−4.5 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 $990 to $1,440 depending on the ZIP code.

All 14 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
71901	$790	$790	$1,020	$1,310	$1,510
71902	$860	$860	$1,110	$1,420	$1,600
71903	$860	$860	$1,110	$1,420	$1,600
71909	$1,040	$1,050	$1,300	$1,690	$1,950
71910	$860	$860	$1,110	$1,420	$1,600
71913	$890	$890	$1,150	$1,470	$1,660
71914	$860	$860	$1,110	$1,420	$1,600
71933	$750	$760	$990	$1,260	$1,510
71949	$910	$930	$1,160	$1,500	$1,710
71956	$750	$760	$990	$1,260	$1,510
71964	$1,110	$1,120	$1,440	$1,850	$2,080
71968	$930	$940	$1,210	$1,550	$1,740
72087	$890	$900	$1,040	$1,390	$1,640
72104	$890	$900	$1,040	$1,390	$1,640

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

HUD income limits for Garland County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $81,600 (FY2025: $73,100, +11.6%). 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%)	$16,900 +8.0%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +4.6%	$49,850 +9.9%	$53,050 +9.9%
Very low income (50%)	$28,150 +10.0%	$32,150 +9.9%	$36,150 +9.9%	$40,200 +10.0%	$43,450 +10.0%	$46,600 +9.9%	$49,850 +9.9%	$53,050 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$45,000 +9.9%	$51,450 +9.9%	$57,900 +10.0%	$64,300 +9.9%	$69,450 +9.9%	$74,600 +9.9%	$79,750 +9.9%	$84,900 +9.9%

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.