DeKalb County, IL: 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).

$1,4812-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,1551-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$88,95080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$112,500Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in DeKalb County is $1,481 a month, up 7.9% from $1,373 in FY2026. DeKalb County belongs to the DeKalb County, IL 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 DeKalb County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,052	$947	+11.1%	$947 – $1,157
1 bedroom	$1,155	$1,046	+10.4%	$1,040 – $1,270
2 bedrooms	$1,481	$1,373	+7.9%	$1,333 – $1,629
3 bedrooms	$2,006	$1,825	+9.9%	$1,806 – $2,206
4 bedrooms	$2,301	$2,203	+4.4%	$2,071 – $2,531

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 DeKalb County that is typically $1,333 to $1,629 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?

$35,877median income of renter households

$1,049Median gross rent, all units

35%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

57%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $35,877 can afford about $897 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,481 is $584 (65.1%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $59,240 a year under the 30% rule, or $53,316 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

DeKalb County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,049 ±$33
Median income of renter households	$35,877 ±$3,042
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	57.2% ±5.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	33.0% ±4.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	14,306

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$930	$1,049	+12.8%
Median renter household income	$34,458	$35,877	+4.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	50.8%	57.2%	+6.4 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 $1,240 to $2,340 depending on the ZIP code.

All 26 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
60111	$1,070	$1,180	$1,510	$2,050	$2,350
60112	$1,460	$1,610	$2,060	$2,790	$3,200
60115	$1,010	$1,110	$1,420	$1,920	$2,210
60119	$1,950	$2,070	$2,340	$3,010	$3,440
60129	$920	$1,020	$1,320	$1,670	$2,030
60135	$1,070	$1,180	$1,510	$2,050	$2,350
60140	$1,630	$1,750	$2,020	$2,630	$3,000
60145	$880	$970	$1,240	$1,680	$1,990
60146	$1,090	$1,200	$1,540	$2,090	$2,390
60150	$1,140	$1,260	$1,610	$2,180	$2,500
60151	$1,790	$1,910	$2,240	$2,930	$3,350
60152	$1,240	$1,320	$1,490	$1,920	$2,190
60178	$1,120	$1,230	$1,570	$2,130	$2,440
60511	$1,540	$1,630	$1,990	$2,610	$2,940
60518	$860	$950	$1,240	$1,650	$1,990
60520	$1,480	$1,620	$2,080	$2,820	$3,230
60530	$930	$1,090	$1,330	$1,820	$2,010
60531	$1,140	$1,250	$1,630	$2,130	$2,610
60548	$1,280	$1,410	$1,850	$2,540	$2,630
60550	$940	$1,060	$1,340	$1,810	$2,080
60552	$1,130	$1,240	$1,610	$2,130	$2,550
60553	$970	$1,180	$1,400	$1,940	$2,090
60556	$970	$1,070	$1,370	$1,860	$2,130
61052	$880	$970	$1,270	$1,650	$1,990
61068	$860	$950	$1,240	$1,650	$1,990
61353	$860	$950	$1,240	$1,650	$1,990

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

HUD income limits for DeKalb County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $112,500 (FY2025: $101,300, +11.1%). 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%)	$23,350 +9.9%	$26,700 +9.9%	$30,050 +9.9%	$33,350 +3.7%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$38,900 +9.9%	$44,450 +9.9%	$50,050 +10.0%	$55,600 +10.0%	$60,050 +10.0%	$64,500 +10.0%	$68,950 +10.0%	$73,400 +10.0%
Low income (80%)	$62,300 +10.0%	$71,200 +10.0%	$80,100 +10.0%	$88,950 +10.0%	$96,100 +10.0%	$103,200 +10.0%	$110,300 +9.9%	$117,450 +10.0%

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.