Walker 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).

$1,3402-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,2311-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$77,90080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$97,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Walker County is $1,340 a month, down 3.6% from $1,390 in FY2026. Walker County belongs to the Chattanooga, TN-GA 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 Walker County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,181	$1,211	−2.5%	$1,063 – $1,299
1 bedroom	$1,231	$1,263	−2.5%	$1,108 – $1,354
2 bedrooms	$1,340	$1,390	−3.6%	$1,206 – $1,474
3 bedrooms	$1,657	$1,734	−4.4%	$1,492 – $1,822
4 bedrooms	$1,761	$1,853	−5.0%	$1,585 – $1,937

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 Walker County that is typically $1,206 to $1,474 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?

$38,169median income of renter households

$940Median gross rent, all units

30%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

47%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $38,169 can afford about $954 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,340 is $386 (40.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $53,600 a year under the 30% rule, or $48,240 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Walker County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$940 ±$32
Median income of renter households	$38,169 ±$4,085
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	47.0% ±4.9
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.3% ±4.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	5,114

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$753	$940	+24.8%
Median renter household income	$31,263	$38,169	+22.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	49.8%	47.0%	−2.8 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 $1,000 to $1,820 depending on the ZIP code.

All 71 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
30707	$940	$980	$1,070	$1,320	$1,410
30710	$960	$1,100	$1,230	$1,600	$2,060
30725	$880	$920	$1,000	$1,260	$1,350
30726	$1,050	$1,090	$1,190	$1,470	$1,560
30728	$880	$920	$1,000	$1,240	$1,320
30731	$830	$840	$1,010	$1,360	$1,580
30736	$1,040	$1,080	$1,180	$1,460	$1,560
30738	$900	$920	$1,060	$1,370	$1,620
30739	$1,060	$1,100	$1,220	$1,530	$1,650
30740	$790	$900	$1,000	$1,310	$1,670
30741	$1,060	$1,100	$1,200	$1,480	$1,580
30742	$1,060	$1,100	$1,200	$1,480	$1,580
30746	$810	$920	$1,060	$1,400	$1,660
30747	$790	$800	$1,000	$1,380	$1,660
30750	$1,030	$1,070	$1,170	$1,450	$1,540
30752	$940	$980	$1,070	$1,320	$1,410
30753	$810	$820	$1,000	$1,360	$1,600
30755	$820	$910	$1,010	$1,300	$1,580
30757	$940	$990	$1,080	$1,350	$1,440
37110	$800	$800	$1,050	$1,250	$1,380
37302	$1,030	$1,080	$1,180	$1,470	$1,580
37304	$1,270	$1,320	$1,440	$1,780	$1,890
37308	$830	$850	$1,000	$1,230	$1,370
37311	$860	$940	$1,230	$1,540	$1,620
37315	$1,600	$1,670	$1,820	$2,250	$2,390
37327	$870	$900	$1,000	$1,230	$1,320
37336	$920	$970	$1,210	$1,490	$1,610
37338	$810	$830	$1,020	$1,230	$1,370
37340	$1,020	$1,060	$1,150	$1,430	$1,520
37341	$1,270	$1,320	$1,440	$1,780	$1,890
37343	$1,350	$1,410	$1,530	$1,890	$2,010
37347	$940	$980	$1,070	$1,320	$1,410
37350	$1,540	$1,610	$1,750	$2,160	$2,300
37351	$1,240	$1,300	$1,410	$1,750	$1,850
37353	$930	$1,010	$1,300	$1,630	$1,710
37356	$810	$840	$1,000	$1,240	$1,350
37363	$1,600	$1,670	$1,820	$2,250	$2,390
37365	$770	$810	$1,000	$1,240	$1,370
37366	$980	$1,020	$1,280	$1,590	$1,790
37367	$830	$830	$1,090	$1,300	$1,500
37373	$1,140	$1,190	$1,310	$1,630	$1,740
37374	$920	$960	$1,070	$1,330	$1,420
37375	$1,210	$1,230	$1,570	$2,070	$2,580
37377	$1,300	$1,360	$1,480	$1,830	$1,950
37379	$1,040	$1,080	$1,180	$1,460	$1,550
37380	$1,030	$1,070	$1,170	$1,450	$1,540
37384	$1,270	$1,320	$1,440	$1,780	$1,890
37387	$770	$810	$1,000	$1,240	$1,370
37396	$1,040	$1,090	$1,190	$1,470	$1,560
37397	$880	$920	$1,000	$1,240	$1,320
37401	$1,270	$1,320	$1,440	$1,780	$1,890
37402	$1,290	$1,340	$1,460	$1,810	$1,920
37403	$1,430	$1,490	$1,620	$2,000	$2,130
37404	$1,120	$1,170	$1,270	$1,570	$1,670
37405	$1,490	$1,550	$1,690	$2,090	$2,220
37406	$1,020	$1,070	$1,160	$1,430	$1,520
37407	$1,000	$1,040	$1,130	$1,400	$1,490
37408	$1,490	$1,550	$1,690	$2,090	$2,220
37409	$1,270	$1,320	$1,440	$1,780	$1,890
37410	$940	$980	$1,070	$1,320	$1,410
37411	$1,110	$1,160	$1,260	$1,560	$1,660
37412	$1,170	$1,220	$1,330	$1,650	$1,750
37414	$1,270	$1,320	$1,440	$1,780	$1,890
37415	$1,320	$1,380	$1,500	$1,860	$1,970
37416	$1,140	$1,190	$1,290	$1,600	$1,700
37419	$1,100	$1,150	$1,250	$1,550	$1,640
37421	$1,520	$1,590	$1,730	$2,140	$2,270
37422	$1,270	$1,320	$1,440	$1,780	$1,890
37424	$1,270	$1,320	$1,440	$1,780	$1,890
37450	$1,270	$1,320	$1,440	$1,780	$1,890
38585	$760	$770	$1,000	$1,200	$1,370

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

HUD income limits for Walker County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $97,400 (FY2025: $95,600, +1.9%). 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%)	$20,450 +1.7%	$23,400 +2.0%	$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%)	$34,100 +1.9%	$39,000 +2.1%	$43,850 +2.0%	$48,700 +2.0%	$52,600 +1.9%	$56,500 +2.0%	$60,400 +1.9%	$64,300 +2.0%
Low income (80%)	$54,550 +2.0%	$62,350 +2.0%	$70,150 +2.0%	$77,900 +2.0%	$84,150 +1.9%	$90,400 +2.0%	$96,600 +2.0%	$102,850 +2.0%

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.