Monroe 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).

$1,1512-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0571-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$87,85080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$109,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Monroe County is $1,151 a month, down 2.0% from $1,174 in FY2026. Monroe County belongs to the Monroe County, GA 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 Monroe County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$986	$984	+0.2%	$888 – $1,084
1 bedroom	$1,057	$1,048	+0.9%	$952 – $1,162
2 bedrooms	$1,151	$1,174	−2.0%	$1,036 – $1,266
3 bedrooms	$1,371	$1,408	−2.6%	$1,234 – $1,508
4 bedrooms	$1,513	$1,662	−9.0%	$1,362 – $1,664

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 Monroe County that is typically $1,036 to $1,266 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?

$53,009median income of renter households

$943Median gross rent, all units

21%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

29%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $53,009 can afford about $1,325 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,151 is $174 (13.1%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $46,040 a year under the 30% rule, or $41,436 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Monroe County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$943 ±$51
Median income of renter households	$53,009 ±$16,699
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	28.5% ±12.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	19.8% ±12.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,441

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$704	$943	+33.9%
Median renter household income	$28,656	$53,009	+85.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	46.1%	28.5%	−17.6 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 $1,030 to $1,740 depending on the ZIP code.

All 10 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
30204	$890	$950	$1,060	$1,390	$1,510
30233	$910	$940	$1,030	$1,390	$1,670
31004	$980	$1,060	$1,150	$1,370	$1,510
31016	$980	$1,050	$1,180	$1,420	$1,560
31029	$980	$1,060	$1,150	$1,370	$1,630
31046	$1,050	$1,120	$1,230	$1,470	$1,630
31066	$1,010	$1,060	$1,180	$1,420	$1,560
31097	$890	$950	$1,060	$1,290	$1,510
31210	$1,470	$1,550	$1,740	$2,070	$2,290
31220	$1,390	$1,460	$1,640	$1,950	$2,150

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

HUD income limits for Monroe County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $109,800 (FY2025: $110,300, −0.5%). 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%)	$23,100 +7.2%	$26,400 +7.3%	$29,700 +7.2%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$38,450 +7.3%	$43,950 +7.2%	$49,450 +7.2%	$54,900 +7.1%	$59,300 +7.1%	$63,700 +7.1%	$68,100 +7.2%	$72,500 +7.2%
Low income (80%)	$61,500 +7.1%	$70,300 +7.2%	$79,100 +7.2%	$87,850 +7.1%	$94,900 +7.1%	$101,950 +7.1%	$108,950 +7.1%	$116,000 +7.2%

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.