Sebastian 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).

$9792-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7481-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$61,45080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$76,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Sebastian County is $979 a month, up 4.5% from $937 in FY2026. Sebastian County belongs to the Fort Smith, AR-OK 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 Sebastian County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$741	$683	+8.5%	$667 – $815
1 bedroom	$748	$714	+4.8%	$674 – $822
2 bedrooms	$979	$937	+4.5%	$882 – $1,076
3 bedrooms	$1,324	$1,266	+4.6%	$1,192 – $1,456
4 bedrooms	$1,625	$1,532	+6.1%	$1,463 – $1,787

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 Sebastian County that is typically $882 to $1,076 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?

$40,047median income of renter households

$886Median gross rent, all units

27%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

43%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $40,047 can afford about $1,001 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $979 is $22 (2.2%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $39,160 a year under the 30% rule, or $35,244 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Sebastian County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$886 ±$29
Median income of renter households	$40,047 ±$2,778
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	42.5% ±3.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	21.1% ±2.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	18,755

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$696	$886	+27.3%
Median renter household income	$30,615	$40,047	+30.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	41.3%	42.5%	+1.2 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 $920 to $1,330 depending on the ZIP code.

All 44 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
72901	$730	$730	$960	$1,300	$1,590
72902	$750	$760	$990	$1,340	$1,640
72903	$770	$780	$1,020	$1,380	$1,690
72904	$730	$740	$970	$1,310	$1,610
72905	$750	$760	$990	$1,340	$1,640
72906	$750	$760	$990	$1,340	$1,640
72908	$770	$780	$1,020	$1,380	$1,690
72913	$750	$760	$990	$1,340	$1,640
72914	$750	$760	$990	$1,340	$1,640
72916	$1,010	$1,020	$1,330	$1,800	$2,210
72917	$750	$760	$990	$1,340	$1,640
72918	$750	$760	$990	$1,340	$1,640
72921	$820	$830	$1,090	$1,470	$1,810
72923	$820	$830	$1,080	$1,460	$1,790
72927	$650	$830	$920	$1,200	$1,520
72930	$710	$720	$940	$1,220	$1,570
72932	$730	$740	$970	$1,310	$1,610
72933	$690	$730	$920	$1,170	$1,530
72934	$690	$700	$920	$1,240	$1,520
72935	$690	$700	$920	$1,240	$1,520
72936	$730	$740	$970	$1,310	$1,610
72937	$690	$700	$920	$1,240	$1,520
72938	$730	$740	$970	$1,310	$1,610
72940	$690	$700	$920	$1,240	$1,520
72941	$750	$760	$990	$1,340	$1,640
72944	$680	$700	$920	$1,210	$1,440
72945	$870	$880	$1,150	$1,560	$1,910
72946	$870	$880	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
72947	$690	$700	$920	$1,210	$1,520
72948	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72952	$760	$770	$1,010	$1,360	$1,670
72955	$710	$720	$950	$1,280	$1,570
72956	$730	$740	$970	$1,310	$1,610
72957	$730	$740	$970	$1,310	$1,610
72959	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
74435	$720	$730	$960	$1,280	$1,560
74931	$840	$890	$1,150	$1,440	$1,660
74936	$690	$700	$920	$1,240	$1,520
74945	$780	$790	$1,030	$1,370	$1,660
74946	$720	$730	$960	$1,300	$1,590
74948	$690	$700	$920	$1,240	$1,520
74954	$730	$740	$970	$1,310	$1,610
74955	$760	$760	$1,000	$1,350	$1,660
74962	$690	$700	$920	$1,240	$1,510

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

HUD income limits for Sebastian County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $76,800 (FY2025: $80,600, −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%)	$16,150 +3.2%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +5.2%	$47,650 +5.8%	$50,700 +5.7%
Very low income (50%)	$26,900 +5.7%	$30,750 +5.9%	$34,600 +5.8%	$38,400 +5.8%	$41,500 +5.7%	$44,550 +5.7%	$47,650 +5.8%	$50,700 +5.7%
Low income (80%)	$43,050 +5.8%	$49,200 +5.8%	$55,350 +5.8%	$61,450 +5.8%	$66,400 +5.8%	$71,300 +5.8%	$76,200 +5.8%	$81,150 +5.8%

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.