Laurens County, GA: 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).

$1,0072-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7701-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$61,60080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$74,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Laurens County is $1,007 a month, up 3.5% from $973 in FY2026. Laurens County belongs to the Laurens County, GA 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 Laurens County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$701	$671	+4.5%	$631 – $771
1 bedroom	$770	$742	+3.8%	$693 – $847
2 bedrooms	$1,007	$973	+3.5%	$907 – $1,107
3 bedrooms	$1,286	$1,284	+0.2%	$1,158 – $1,414
4 bedrooms	$1,600	$1,614	−0.9%	$1,440 – $1,760

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 Laurens County that is typically $907 to $1,107 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?

$35,198median income of renter households

$863Median gross rent, all units

29%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

49%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $35,198 can afford about $880 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,007 is $127 (14.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,280 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,252 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Laurens County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$863 ±$53
Median income of renter households	$35,198 ±$5,047
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	49.4% ±6.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	27.9% ±5.3
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	6,029

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$615	$863	+40.3%
Median renter household income	$24,835	$35,198	+41.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	49.7%	49.4%	−0.3 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 Laurens County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $74,000 (FY2025: $70,100, +5.6%). 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%)	$16,200 +1.3%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$47,750 +1.1%	$50,850 +1.1%
Very low income (50%)	$26,950 +0.9%	$30,800 +1.0%	$34,650 +1.0%	$38,500 +1.0%	$41,600 +1.1%	$44,700 +1.1%	$47,750 +1.1%	$50,850 +1.1%
Low income (80%)	$43,150 +1.1%	$49,300 +1.0%	$55,450 +1.0%	$61,600 +1.1%	$66,550 +1.1%	$71,500 +1.1%	$76,400 +1.1%	$81,350 +1.1%

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.