Highlands 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).

$1,2592-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0221-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$64,65080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$75,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Highlands County is $1,259 a month, down 0.9% from $1,271 in FY2026. Highlands County belongs to the Sebring, 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 Highlands County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$877	$876	+0.1%	$790 – $964
1 bedroom	$1,022	$1,006	+1.6%	$920 – $1,124
2 bedrooms	$1,259	$1,271	−0.9%	$1,134 – $1,384
3 bedrooms	$1,500	$1,538	−2.5%	$1,350 – $1,650
4 bedrooms	$1,905	$2,017	−5.6%	$1,715 – $2,095

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 Highlands County that is typically $1,134 to $1,384 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?

$35,573median income of renter households

$1,035Median gross rent, all units

35%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 $35,573 can afford about $889 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,259 is $370 (41.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $50,360 a year under the 30% rule, or $45,324 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Highlands County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,035 ±$52
Median income of renter households	$35,573 ±$3,555
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	55.6% ±4.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	29.4% ±3.5
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	8,925

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$816	$1,035	+26.8%
Median renter household income	$28,462	$35,573	+25.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	53.2%	55.6%	+2.4 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 $1,150 to $1,590 depending on the ZIP code.

All 14 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
33825	$1,110	$1,110	$1,350	$1,830	$2,260
33826	$880	$1,020	$1,260	$1,500	$1,910
33843	$1,110	$1,110	$1,350	$1,830	$2,260
33852	$970	$1,140	$1,400	$1,670	$2,120
33857	$970	$1,030	$1,240	$1,560	$1,820
33862	$880	$1,020	$1,260	$1,500	$1,910
33870	$860	$1,000	$1,230	$1,470	$1,860
33871	$880	$1,020	$1,260	$1,500	$1,910
33872	$1,000	$1,160	$1,430	$1,700	$2,160
33875	$980	$1,140	$1,410	$1,680	$2,130
33876	$790	$920	$1,150	$1,390	$1,820
33960	$990	$1,100	$1,320	$1,620	$1,990
34266	$960	$1,110	$1,350	$1,790	$2,130
34974	$1,310	$1,330	$1,590	$2,180	$2,330

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

HUD income limits for Highlands County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $75,600 (FY2025: $66,400, +13.9%). 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%)	$17,000 +5.6%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +5.3%	$53,350 +5.4%
Very low income (50%)	$28,300 +5.4%	$32,350 +5.5%	$36,400 +5.5%	$40,400 +5.5%	$43,650 +5.4%	$46,900 +5.5%	$50,100 +5.5%	$53,350 +5.4%
Low income (80%)	$45,300 +5.5%	$51,750 +5.5%	$58,200 +5.4%	$64,650 +5.5%	$69,850 +5.4%	$75,000 +5.4%	$80,200 +5.5%	$85,350 +5.4%

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.