Boulder 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).

$2,0332-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,7351-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$106,80080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$150,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Boulder County is $2,033 a month, down 4.3% from $2,124 in FY2026. Boulder County belongs to the Boulder, CO 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 Boulder County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,520	$1,553	−2.1%	$1,368 – $1,672
1 bedroom	$1,735	$1,795	−3.3%	$1,562 – $1,908
2 bedrooms	$2,033	$2,124	−4.3%	$1,830 – $2,236
3 bedrooms	$2,703	$2,820	−4.1%	$2,433 – $2,973
4 bedrooms	$3,146	$3,239	−2.9%	$2,832 – $3,460

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 Boulder County that is typically $1,830 to $2,236 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?

$63,666median income of renter households

$1,966Median gross rent, all units

37%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

60%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $63,666 can afford about $1,592 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $2,033 is $441 (27.7%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $81,320 a year under the 30% rule, or $73,188 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Boulder County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,966 ±$30
Median income of renter households	$63,666 ±$1,864
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	59.9% ±2.0
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	33.9% ±1.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	49,738

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,495	$1,966	+31.5%
Median renter household income	$48,426	$63,666	+31.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	56.9%	59.9%	+3.0 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 $1,920 to $2,630 depending on the ZIP code.

All 31 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
80020	$1,940	$2,030	$2,410	$3,160	$3,540
80025	$1,760	$1,930	$2,270	$3,000	$3,430
80026	$1,610	$1,840	$2,160	$2,870	$3,340
80027	$1,760	$2,010	$2,360	$3,140	$3,650
80301	$1,620	$1,850	$2,170	$2,890	$3,360
80302	$1,600	$1,830	$2,140	$2,850	$3,310
80303	$1,580	$1,810	$2,120	$2,820	$3,280
80304	$1,670	$1,900	$2,230	$2,970	$3,450
80305	$1,790	$2,040	$2,390	$3,180	$3,700
80306	$1,520	$1,730	$2,030	$2,700	$3,140
80307	$1,520	$1,730	$2,030	$2,700	$3,140
80308	$1,520	$1,730	$2,030	$2,700	$3,140
80309	$1,520	$1,730	$2,030	$2,700	$3,140
80310	$1,600	$1,830	$2,150	$2,860	$3,320
80403	$1,980	$2,080	$2,460	$3,230	$3,620
80422	$1,540	$1,620	$1,920	$2,540	$2,920
80455	$1,640	$1,850	$2,160	$2,880	$3,320
80466	$1,480	$1,620	$1,920	$2,540	$2,920
80471	$1,520	$1,730	$2,030	$2,700	$3,140
80474	$1,480	$1,620	$1,920	$2,540	$2,920
80481	$1,570	$1,740	$2,050	$2,680	$3,100
80501	$1,400	$1,620	$1,920	$2,540	$2,920
80502	$1,520	$1,730	$2,030	$2,700	$3,140
80503	$1,470	$1,670	$1,960	$2,610	$3,030
80504	$1,540	$1,690	$2,060	$2,790	$3,320
80510	$1,440	$1,620	$1,920	$2,540	$2,920
80513	$1,620	$1,660	$1,920	$2,540	$2,920
80516	$1,970	$2,150	$2,630	$3,580	$4,250
80533	$1,520	$1,730	$2,030	$2,700	$3,140
80540	$1,790	$1,970	$2,270	$3,030	$3,450
80544	$1,520	$1,730	$2,030	$2,700	$3,140

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

HUD income limits for Boulder County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $150,000 (FY2025: $150,600, −0.4%). 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%)	$31,500 −0.5%	$36,000 −0.6%	$40,500 −0.5%	$45,000 −0.4%	$48,600 −0.5%	$52,200 −0.5%	$55,800 −0.4%	$59,400 −0.5%
Very low income (50%)	$52,500 −0.5%	$60,000 −0.4%	$67,500 −0.4%	$75,000 −0.4%	$81,000 −0.4%	$87,000 −0.4%	$93,000 −0.4%	$99,000 −0.4%
Low income (80%)	$74,800 +2.5%	$85,450 +2.5%	$96,150 +2.5%	$106,800 +2.5%	$115,350 +2.5%	$123,900 +2.5%	$132,450 +2.5%	$141,000 +2.5%

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.