Escambia County, FL: 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).

$1,5482-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,3591-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$74,60080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$92,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Escambia County is $1,548 a month, up 5.2% from $1,471 in FY2026. Escambia County belongs to the Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL 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 Escambia County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,154	$1,112	+3.8%	$1,039 – $1,269
1 bedroom	$1,359	$1,257	+8.1%	$1,224 – $1,494
2 bedrooms	$1,548	$1,471	+5.2%	$1,394 – $1,702
3 bedrooms	$2,034	$1,952	+4.2%	$1,831 – $2,237
4 bedrooms	$2,435	$2,380	+2.3%	$2,192 – $2,678

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 Escambia County that is typically $1,394 to $1,702 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?

$47,111median income of renter households

$1,321Median gross rent, all units

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

56%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $47,111 can afford about $1,178 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,548 is $370 (31.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $61,920 a year under the 30% rule, or $55,728 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Escambia County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,321 ±$24
Median income of renter households	$47,111 ±$2,021
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	55.7% ±2.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	25.4% ±1.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	42,451

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$983	$1,321	+34.4%
Median renter household income	$37,600	$47,111	+25.3%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	48.7%	55.7%	+7.0 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 $1,330 to $2,170 depending on the ZIP code.

All 37 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
32501	$1,010	$1,140	$1,330	$1,760	$2,150
32502	$1,180	$1,390	$1,580	$2,080	$2,490
32503	$1,120	$1,320	$1,500	$1,970	$2,360
32504	$1,140	$1,340	$1,530	$2,010	$2,410
32505	$1,010	$1,150	$1,330	$1,760	$2,150
32506	$1,180	$1,390	$1,580	$2,080	$2,490
32507	$1,140	$1,340	$1,530	$2,010	$2,430
32508	$1,580	$1,860	$2,120	$2,790	$3,340
32509	$1,180	$1,390	$1,580	$2,080	$2,490
32511	$1,160	$1,370	$1,560	$2,050	$2,450
32512	$1,130	$1,330	$1,510	$1,980	$2,380
32513	$1,130	$1,330	$1,510	$1,980	$2,380
32514	$1,290	$1,520	$1,730	$2,270	$2,720
32516	$1,130	$1,330	$1,510	$1,980	$2,380
32522	$1,130	$1,330	$1,510	$1,980	$2,380
32523	$1,130	$1,330	$1,510	$1,980	$2,380
32524	$1,130	$1,330	$1,510	$1,980	$2,380
32526	$1,180	$1,390	$1,580	$2,080	$2,490
32530	$1,160	$1,360	$1,550	$2,040	$2,440
32531	$1,230	$1,430	$1,610	$2,210	$2,690
32533	$1,010	$1,140	$1,330	$1,760	$2,150
32534	$1,180	$1,390	$1,580	$2,080	$2,490
32535	$1,010	$1,140	$1,330	$1,760	$2,150
32560	$1,130	$1,330	$1,510	$1,980	$2,380
32561	$1,390	$1,640	$1,870	$2,460	$2,940
32562	$1,330	$1,560	$1,780	$2,340	$2,800
32563	$1,510	$1,780	$2,030	$2,670	$3,190
32564	$1,230	$1,430	$1,610	$2,210	$2,690
32565	$1,010	$1,140	$1,330	$1,760	$2,150
32566	$1,620	$1,900	$2,170	$2,850	$3,410
32568	$1,010	$1,140	$1,330	$1,760	$2,150
32570	$1,160	$1,370	$1,560	$2,050	$2,450
32571	$1,130	$1,330	$1,510	$1,980	$2,380
32572	$1,330	$1,560	$1,780	$2,340	$2,800
32577	$1,020	$1,200	$1,350	$1,770	$2,150
32583	$1,160	$1,360	$1,550	$2,040	$2,440
32591	$1,130	$1,330	$1,510	$1,980	$2,380

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

HUD income limits for Escambia County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $92,800 (FY2025: $100,200, −7.4%). 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%)	$19,600 −5.1%	$22,400 −5.1%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$32,650 −4.9%	$37,300 −5.0%	$41,950 −5.0%	$46,600 −5.0%	$50,350 −5.0%	$54,100 −4.9%	$57,850 −4.9%	$61,550 −4.9%
Low income (80%)	$52,250 −4.9%	$59,700 −4.9%	$67,150 −5.0%	$74,600 −5.0%	$80,600 −5.0%	$86,550 −5.0%	$92,550 −4.9%	$98,500 −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.