Washington 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).

$1,2562-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0561-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$85,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$106,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Washington County is $1,256 a month, down 6.8% from $1,347 in FY2026. Washington County belongs to the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, 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 Washington County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$916	$1,007	−9.0%	$825 – $1,007
1 bedroom	$1,056	$1,115	−5.3%	$951 – $1,161
2 bedrooms	$1,256	$1,347	−6.8%	$1,131 – $1,381
3 bedrooms	$1,739	$1,873	−7.2%	$1,566 – $1,912
4 bedrooms	$2,099	$2,213	−5.2%	$1,890 – $2,308

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 Washington County that is typically $1,131 to $1,381 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?

$45,221median income of renter households

$1,071Median gross rent, all units

28%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 $45,221 can afford about $1,131 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,256 is $125 (11.1%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $50,240 a year under the 30% rule, or $45,216 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Washington County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,071 ±$23
Median income of renter households	$45,221 ±$2,615
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	44.7% ±2.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.2% ±1.6
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	39,799

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$794	$1,071	+34.9%
Median renter household income	$33,162	$45,221	+36.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	43.5%	44.7%	+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 $910 to $1,880 depending on the ZIP code.

All 56 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
72632	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72701	$930	$1,080	$1,280	$1,770	$2,140
72702	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72703	$910	$1,020	$1,220	$1,690	$2,020
72704	$990	$1,130	$1,340	$1,860	$2,240
72711	$1,010	$1,160	$1,380	$1,910	$2,310
72712	$1,040	$1,190	$1,420	$1,970	$2,370
72713	$1,090	$1,250	$1,490	$2,060	$2,490
72714	$1,060	$1,230	$1,460	$2,020	$2,440
72715	$1,130	$1,300	$1,550	$2,150	$2,590
72716	$1,010	$1,160	$1,380	$1,910	$2,310
72717	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72718	$1,370	$1,580	$1,880	$2,600	$3,140
72719	$1,150	$1,330	$1,580	$2,190	$2,640
72721	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72722	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72727	$980	$1,130	$1,340	$1,860	$2,240
72728	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72729	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72730	$1,140	$1,320	$1,570	$2,170	$2,620
72732	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72733	$1,010	$1,160	$1,380	$1,910	$2,310
72734	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,010
72735	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72736	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,010
72737	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72738	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72739	$920	$1,020	$1,240	$1,720	$2,030
72740	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72741	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72742	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72744	$910	$1,030	$1,220	$1,690	$2,040
72745	$930	$1,080	$1,280	$1,770	$2,140
72747	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72749	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72751	$1,340	$1,550	$1,840	$2,550	$3,080
72752	$660	$760	$910	$1,210	$1,470
72753	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72756	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72757	$1,010	$1,160	$1,380	$1,910	$2,310
72758	$1,080	$1,240	$1,480	$2,050	$2,470
72760	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72761	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72762	$940	$1,080	$1,290	$1,790	$2,160
72764	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72765	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72766	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72768	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72769	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72770	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72773	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72774	$980	$1,090	$1,300	$1,800	$2,170
72776	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72852	$690	$700	$920	$1,170	$1,470
72948	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
72959	$910	$1,010	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000

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

HUD income limits for Washington County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $106,900 (FY2025: $101,800, +5.0%). 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%)	$22,450 +4.9%	$25,650 +4.9%	$28,850 +4.9%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$37,450 +5.0%	$42,800 +5.0%	$48,150 +5.0%	$53,450 +5.0%	$57,750 +5.0%	$62,050 +5.1%	$66,300 +5.0%	$70,600 +5.1%
Low income (80%)	$59,850 +4.9%	$68,400 +4.9%	$76,950 +4.9%	$85,500 +5.0%	$92,350 +4.9%	$99,200 +5.0%	$106,050 +5.0%	$112,900 +5.0%

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.