Polk 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).

$1,6082-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,3381-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$69,85080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$83,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Polk County is $1,608 a month, up 7.4% from $1,497 in FY2026. Polk County belongs to the Lakeland-Winter Haven, 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 Polk County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,258	$1,226	+2.6%	$1,133 – $1,383
1 bedroom	$1,338	$1,230	+8.8%	$1,205 – $1,471
2 bedrooms	$1,608	$1,497	+7.4%	$1,448 – $1,768
3 bedrooms	$2,212	$2,023	+9.3%	$1,991 – $2,433
4 bedrooms	$2,688	$2,511	+7.0%	$2,420 – $2,956

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 Polk County that is typically $1,448 to $1,768 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?

$50,423median income of renter households

$1,363Median gross rent, all units

32%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

54%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $50,423 can afford about $1,261 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,608 is $347 (27.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $64,320 a year under the 30% rule, or $57,888 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Polk County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,363 ±$28
Median income of renter households	$50,423 ±$1,573
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	54.2% ±1.9
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	26.9% ±1.5
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	78,563

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$978	$1,363	+39.4%
Median renter household income	$38,136	$50,423	+32.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	50.3%	54.2%	+3.9 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.

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 $1,350 to $2,800 depending on the ZIP code.

All 58 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
33547	$2,330	$2,410	$2,800	$3,580	$4,350
33801	$1,220	$1,300	$1,560	$2,150	$2,610
33802	$1,260	$1,340	$1,610	$2,210	$2,690
33803	$1,430	$1,520	$1,830	$2,520	$3,060
33804	$1,260	$1,340	$1,610	$2,210	$2,690
33805	$1,170	$1,250	$1,500	$2,060	$2,510
33806	$1,260	$1,340	$1,610	$2,210	$2,690
33807	$1,260	$1,340	$1,610	$2,210	$2,690
33809	$1,420	$1,510	$1,820	$2,500	$3,040
33810	$1,410	$1,500	$1,800	$2,470	$3,010
33811	$1,240	$1,310	$1,580	$2,170	$2,640
33812	$1,590	$1,690	$2,030	$2,790	$3,390
33813	$1,590	$1,690	$2,030	$2,790	$3,390
33815	$1,110	$1,120	$1,350	$1,860	$2,260
33820	$1,260	$1,340	$1,610	$2,210	$2,690
33823	$1,110	$1,110	$1,350	$1,830	$2,260
33825	$1,110	$1,110	$1,350	$1,830	$2,260
33827	$1,360	$1,380	$1,670	$2,280	$2,790
33830	$1,110	$1,120	$1,350	$1,860	$2,260
33831	$1,260	$1,340	$1,610	$2,210	$2,690
33834	$1,110	$1,110	$1,350	$1,830	$2,260
33835	$1,150	$1,220	$1,470	$2,020	$2,460
33836	$1,260	$1,340	$1,610	$2,210	$2,690
33837	$1,650	$1,760	$2,110	$2,900	$3,530
33838	$1,420	$1,510	$1,820	$2,500	$3,040
33839	$1,460	$1,550	$1,860	$2,560	$3,110
33840	$1,430	$1,520	$1,830	$2,520	$3,060
33841	$1,110	$1,110	$1,350	$1,830	$2,260
33843	$1,110	$1,110	$1,350	$1,830	$2,260
33844	$1,130	$1,210	$1,450	$1,990	$2,420
33845	$1,260	$1,340	$1,610	$2,210	$2,690
33846	$1,260	$1,340	$1,610	$2,210	$2,690
33847	$1,110	$1,110	$1,350	$1,830	$2,260
33849	$1,270	$1,340	$1,590	$2,140	$2,600
33850	$1,110	$1,110	$1,350	$1,840	$2,260
33851	$1,240	$1,320	$1,580	$2,170	$2,640
33853	$1,110	$1,110	$1,350	$1,830	$2,260
33854	$1,110	$1,110	$1,350	$1,830	$2,260
33855	$1,110	$1,170	$1,410	$1,930	$2,350
33856	$1,110	$1,110	$1,350	$1,830	$2,260
33858	$1,870	$1,980	$2,350	$3,180	$3,830
33859	$1,180	$1,260	$1,510	$2,080	$2,520
33860	$1,150	$1,220	$1,470	$2,020	$2,460
33863	$1,260	$1,340	$1,610	$2,210	$2,690
33867	$1,110	$1,180	$1,420	$1,950	$2,370
33868	$1,110	$1,130	$1,360	$1,870	$2,270
33877	$1,260	$1,340	$1,610	$2,210	$2,680
33880	$1,130	$1,200	$1,440	$1,980	$2,410
33881	$1,120	$1,190	$1,430	$1,970	$2,390
33882	$1,260	$1,340	$1,610	$2,210	$2,690
33883	$1,260	$1,340	$1,610	$2,210	$2,690
33884	$1,460	$1,550	$1,860	$2,560	$3,110
33885	$1,260	$1,340	$1,610	$2,210	$2,690
33896	$1,900	$2,010	$2,390	$3,220	$3,880
33897	$1,800	$1,910	$2,300	$3,150	$3,830
33898	$1,110	$1,180	$1,420	$1,950	$2,370
34714	$1,670	$1,740	$1,970	$2,470	$2,890
34759	$1,650	$1,750	$2,080	$2,820	$3,400

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

HUD income limits for Polk County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $83,900 (FY2025: $83,300, +0.7%). 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%)	$18,350 +4.9%	$21,640 +2.3%	$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%)	$30,600 +4.8%	$34,950 +4.8%	$39,300 +4.8%	$43,650 +4.8%	$47,150 +4.8%	$50,650 +4.8%	$54,150 +4.8%	$57,650 +4.8%
Low income (80%)	$48,900 +4.7%	$55,900 +4.8%	$62,900 +4.8%	$69,850 +4.8%	$75,450 +4.8%	$81,050 +4.8%	$86,650 +4.8%	$92,250 +4.8%

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.