Chaffee 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).

$1,7552-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,3421-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$88,90080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$111,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Chaffee County is $1,755 a month, up 19.7% from $1,466 in FY2026. Chaffee County belongs to the Chaffee 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 Chaffee County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,304	$1,110	+17.5%	$1,174 – $1,434
1 bedroom	$1,342	$1,117	+20.1%	$1,208 – $1,476
2 bedrooms	$1,755	$1,466	+19.7%	$1,580 – $1,930
3 bedrooms	$2,362	$2,039	+15.8%	$2,126 – $2,598
4 bedrooms	$2,725	$2,298	+18.6%	$2,453 – $2,997

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 Chaffee County that is typically $1,580 to $1,930 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?

$62,500median income of renter households

$1,611Median gross rent, all units

31%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 $62,500 can afford about $1,563 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,755 is $193 (12.3%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $70,200 a year under the 30% rule, or $63,180 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Chaffee County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,611 ±$249
Median income of renter households	$62,500 ±$8,966
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	59.8% ±15.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	29.2% ±13.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	2,298

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$931	$1,611	+73.0%
Median renter household income	$33,994	$62,500	+83.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	47.9%	59.8%	+11.9 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 Chaffee County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $111,100 (FY2025: $103,000, +7.9%). 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%)	$23,350 +8.1%	$26,700 +8.1%	$30,050 +8.1%	$33,350 +3.7%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$38,900 +8.1%	$44,450 +8.0%	$50,000 +8.0%	$55,550 +8.1%	$60,000 +8.0%	$64,450 +8.0%	$68,900 +8.1%	$73,350 +8.1%
Low income (80%)	$62,250 +8.1%	$71,150 +8.1%	$80,050 +8.1%	$88,900 +8.1%	$96,050 +8.1%	$103,150 +8.1%	$110,250 +8.1%	$117,350 +8.1%

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.