Ouachita 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).

$9092-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7211-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$65,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Ouachita County is $909 a month, up 3.3% from $880 in FY2026. Ouachita County belongs to the Ouachita 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 Ouachita County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$646	$630	+2.5%	$582 – $710
1 bedroom	$721	$694	+3.9%	$649 – $793
2 bedrooms	$909	$880	+3.3%	$819 – $999
3 bedrooms	$1,192	$1,133	+5.2%	$1,073 – $1,311
4 bedrooms	$1,274	$1,240	+2.7%	$1,147 – $1,401

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 Ouachita County that is typically $819 to $999 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?

$29,313median income of renter households

$764Median 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 $29,313 can afford about $733 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $909 is $176 (24.0%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $36,360 a year under the 30% rule, or $32,724 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Ouachita County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$764 ±$98
Median income of renter households	$29,313 ±$2,778
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	50.8% ±9.0
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.6% ±6.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	2,011

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$525	$764	+45.5%
Median renter household income	$20,507	$29,313	+42.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	42.0%	50.8%	+8.8 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 Ouachita County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $65,600 (FY2025: $69,100, −5.1%). 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%	$38,400 +2.8%	$41,250 +2.9%	$44,100 +2.9%	$46,950 +2.8%
Very low income (50%)	$24,900 +2.9%	$28,450 +2.9%	$32,000 +2.9%	$35,550 +2.9%	$38,400 +2.8%	$41,250 +2.9%	$44,100 +2.9%	$46,950 +2.8%
Low income (80%)	$39,850 +2.8%	$45,550 +2.9%	$51,250 +2.9%	$56,900 +2.9%	$61,500 +2.9%	$66,050 +3.0%	$70,600 +2.9%	$75,150 +2.9%

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.