El Paso 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).

$1,6212-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,3801-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$93,10080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$116,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in El Paso County is $1,621 a month, down 6.6% from $1,735 in FY2026. El Paso County belongs to the Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area 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 El Paso County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,129	$1,196	−5.6%	$1,017 – $1,241
1 bedroom	$1,380	$1,464	−5.7%	$1,242 – $1,518
2 bedrooms	$1,621	$1,735	−6.6%	$1,459 – $1,783
3 bedrooms	$2,245	$2,413	−7.0%	$2,021 – $2,469
4 bedrooms	$2,574	$2,744	−6.2%	$2,317 – $2,831

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 El Paso County that is typically $1,459 to $1,783 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?

$61,925median income of renter households

$1,696Median gross rent, all units

33%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

55%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $61,925 can afford about $1,548 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,621 is $73 (4.7%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $64,840 a year under the 30% rule, or $58,356 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

El Paso County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,696 ±$20
Median income of renter households	$61,925 ±$1,375
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	54.8% ±1.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	25.8% ±1.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	94,526

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,174	$1,696	+44.5%
Median renter household income	$45,017	$61,925	+37.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	51.8%	54.8%	+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 $1,010 to $2,430 depending on the ZIP code.

All 62 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
80106	$1,030	$1,190	$1,400	$1,900	$2,160
80118	$1,640	$1,800	$2,160	$2,830	$3,190
80132	$1,480	$1,810	$2,130	$2,950	$3,380
80133	$1,290	$1,580	$1,850	$2,560	$2,940
80808	$710	$870	$1,020	$1,420	$1,620
80809	$1,350	$1,650	$1,940	$2,690	$3,080
80817	$1,210	$1,480	$1,750	$2,430	$2,770
80819	$1,010	$1,240	$1,450	$2,010	$2,300
80829	$840	$1,030	$1,210	$1,680	$1,920
80831	$1,620	$1,980	$2,330	$3,230	$3,700
80832	$890	$990	$1,180	$1,600	$1,810
80833	$750	$850	$1,010	$1,410	$1,610
80835	$1,160	$1,210	$1,430	$1,880	$2,110
80840	$1,510	$1,850	$2,170	$3,000	$3,450
80841	$1,130	$1,380	$1,620	$2,240	$2,570
80863	$1,080	$1,430	$1,560	$2,160	$2,480
80864	$990	$1,200	$1,450	$2,030	$2,320
80901	$1,130	$1,380	$1,620	$2,240	$2,570
80902	$1,430	$1,750	$2,050	$2,840	$3,260
80903	$1,070	$1,310	$1,540	$2,130	$2,450
80904	$990	$1,210	$1,420	$1,970	$2,250
80905	$1,000	$1,230	$1,440	$1,990	$2,290
80906	$1,170	$1,440	$1,700	$2,350	$2,680
80907	$940	$1,150	$1,350	$1,870	$2,140
80908	$1,180	$1,390	$1,710	$2,420	$2,840
80909	$990	$1,210	$1,420	$1,970	$2,250
80910	$1,040	$1,280	$1,500	$2,080	$2,380
80911	$1,160	$1,420	$1,670	$2,310	$2,650
80912	$1,130	$1,380	$1,620	$2,240	$2,570
80913	$1,320	$1,610	$1,890	$2,620	$3,010
80914	$1,310	$1,540	$1,900	$2,680	$3,150
80915	$1,030	$1,260	$1,480	$2,050	$2,350
80916	$1,090	$1,330	$1,560	$2,160	$2,480
80917	$1,020	$1,240	$1,460	$2,020	$2,320
80918	$1,200	$1,460	$1,720	$2,380	$2,730
80919	$1,250	$1,520	$1,790	$2,480	$2,840
80920	$1,370	$1,680	$1,970	$2,730	$3,130
80921	$1,480	$1,800	$2,120	$2,940	$3,370
80922	$1,370	$1,680	$1,970	$2,730	$3,130
80923	$1,360	$1,670	$1,960	$2,710	$3,110
80924	$1,480	$1,800	$2,160	$3,030	$3,460
80925	$1,590	$1,940	$2,280	$3,160	$3,620
80926	$1,070	$1,330	$1,540	$2,150	$2,460
80927	$1,690	$2,070	$2,430	$3,360	$3,860
80928	$1,140	$1,390	$1,640	$2,280	$2,590
80929	$1,470	$1,800	$2,110	$2,930	$3,360
80930	$1,430	$1,750	$2,050	$2,840	$3,260
80931	$1,130	$1,380	$1,620	$2,240	$2,570
80932	$1,130	$1,380	$1,620	$2,240	$2,570
80933	$1,130	$1,380	$1,620	$2,240	$2,570
80934	$1,130	$1,380	$1,620	$2,240	$2,570
80935	$1,130	$1,380	$1,620	$2,240	$2,570
80936	$1,130	$1,380	$1,620	$2,240	$2,570
80937	$1,130	$1,380	$1,620	$2,240	$2,570
80938	$1,530	$1,870	$2,200	$3,050	$3,500
80939	$1,460	$1,780	$2,090	$2,900	$3,320
80949	$1,130	$1,380	$1,620	$2,240	$2,570
80951	$1,480	$1,800	$2,120	$2,940	$3,370
80960	$1,130	$1,380	$1,620	$2,240	$2,570
80962	$1,130	$1,380	$1,620	$2,240	$2,570
80970	$1,130	$1,380	$1,620	$2,240	$2,570
81008	$1,150	$1,280	$1,650	$2,110	$2,470

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

HUD income limits for El Paso County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $116,400 (FY2025: $112,500, +3.5%). 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%)	$24,450 +3.4%	$27,950 +3.5%	$31,450 +3.5%	$34,900 +3.4%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$40,750 +3.4%	$46,600 +3.6%	$52,400 +3.5%	$58,200 +3.5%	$62,900 +3.5%	$67,550 +3.5%	$72,200 +3.5%	$76,850 +3.5%
Low income (80%)	$65,200 +3.5%	$74,500 +3.5%	$83,800 +3.5%	$93,100 +3.4%	$100,550 +3.4%	$108,000 +3.4%	$115,450 +3.4%	$122,900 +3.5%

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.