Hot Spring 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).

$9162-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7001-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$59,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$74,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Hot Spring County is $916 a month, up 4.1% from $880 in FY2026. Hot Spring County belongs to the Hot Spring 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 Hot Spring County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$638	$613	+4.1%	$575 – $701
1 bedroom	$700	$671	+4.3%	$630 – $770
2 bedrooms	$916	$880	+4.1%	$825 – $1,007
3 bedrooms	$1,174	$1,155	+1.6%	$1,057 – $1,291
4 bedrooms	$1,284	$1,282	+0.2%	$1,156 – $1,412

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 Hot Spring County that is typically $825 to $1,007 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?

$32,407median income of renter households

$768Median gross rent, all units

28%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

34%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $32,407 can afford about $810 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $916 is $106 (13.1%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $36,640 a year under the 30% rule, or $32,976 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Hot Spring County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$768 ±$25
Median income of renter households	$32,407 ±$7,786
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	34.3% ±8.0
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	22.3% ±8.6
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,958

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$619	$768	+24.1%
Median renter household income	$25,104	$32,407	+29.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	45.8%	34.3%	−11.5 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.

HUD income limits for Hot Spring County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $74,400 (FY2025: $70,100, +6.1%). 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%)	$15,960 +2.0%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$43,200 +6.1%	$46,150 +6.1%	$49,150 +6.2%
Very low income (50%)	$26,050 +6.1%	$29,800 +6.2%	$33,500 +6.2%	$37,200 +6.1%	$40,200 +6.1%	$43,200 +6.1%	$46,150 +6.1%	$49,150 +6.2%
Low income (80%)	$41,650 +6.0%	$47,600 +6.0%	$53,550 +6.0%	$59,500 +6.1%	$64,300 +6.1%	$69,050 +6.1%	$73,800 +6.0%	$78,550 +6.0%

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.