Jefferson 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).

$9552-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7871-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$56,90080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$67,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Jefferson County is $955 a month, up 1.9% from $937 in FY2026. Jefferson County belongs to the Jefferson 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 Jefferson County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$782	$697	+12.2%	$704 – $860
1 bedroom	$787	$728	+8.1%	$709 – $865
2 bedrooms	$955	$937	+1.9%	$860 – $1,050
3 bedrooms	$1,239	$1,224	+1.2%	$1,116 – $1,362
4 bedrooms	$1,266	$1,241	+2.0%	$1,140 – $1,392

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 Jefferson County that is typically $860 to $1,050 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?

$38,154median income of renter households

$888Median gross rent, all units

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

46%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $38,154 can afford about $954 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $955 is $1 (0.1%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $38,200 a year under the 30% rule, or $34,380 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Jefferson County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$888 ±$37
Median income of renter households	$38,154 ±$5,179
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	46.1% ±5.0
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	18.4% ±3.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	8,075

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$740	$888	+20.0%
Median renter household income	$28,700	$38,154	+32.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	47.9%	46.1%	−1.8 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 Jefferson County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $67,900 (FY2025: $66,000, +2.9%). 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%	$38,400 +5.9%	$41,250 +5.9%	$44,100 +5.9%	$46,950 +6.0%
Very low income (50%)	$24,900 +6.0%	$28,450 +6.0%	$32,000 +6.0%	$35,550 +6.0%	$38,400 +5.9%	$41,250 +5.9%	$44,100 +5.9%	$46,950 +6.0%
Low income (80%)	$39,850 +6.0%	$45,550 +5.9%	$51,250 +6.0%	$56,900 +6.0%	$61,500 +6.0%	$66,050 +6.0%	$70,600 +6.0%	$75,150 +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.