Bent County, CO: 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).

$1,1502-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8791-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$77,90080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$67,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Bent County is $1,150 a month, up 12.9% from $1,019 in FY2026. Bent County belongs to the Bent County, CO 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 Bent County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$854	$772	+10.6%	$769 – $939
1 bedroom	$879	$777	+13.1%	$792 – $966
2 bedrooms	$1,150	$1,019	+12.9%	$1,035 – $1,265
3 bedrooms	$1,592	$1,417	+12.4%	$1,433 – $1,751
4 bedrooms	$1,786	$1,598	+11.8%	$1,608 – $1,964

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 Bent County that is typically $1,035 to $1,265 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?

$40,839median income of renter households

$1,162Median gross rent, all units

34%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

59%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $40,839 can afford about $1,021 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,150 is $129 (12.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $46,000 a year under the 30% rule, or $41,400 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Bent County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,162 ±$167
Median income of renter households	$40,839 ±$8,043
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	58.9% ±10.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	27.5% ±10.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	528

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$643	$1,162	+80.7%
Median renter household income	$22,500	$40,839	+81.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	59.8%	58.9%	−0.9 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 Bent County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $67,100 (FY2025: $68,400, −1.9%). 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%)	$20,450 −4.7%	$23,400 −4.5%	$27,320 −0.8%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$34,100 −4.5%	$39,000 −4.4%	$43,850 −4.5%	$48,700 −4.5%	$52,600 −4.5%	$56,500 −4.6%	$60,400 −4.5%	$64,300 −4.5%
Low income (80%)	$54,550 −4.5%	$62,350 −4.5%	$70,150 −4.5%	$77,900 −4.5%	$84,150 −4.5%	$90,400 −4.5%	$96,600 −4.5%	$102,850 −4.5%

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.