Hancock 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).

$9302-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7721-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$72,25080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$90,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Hancock County is $930 a month, up 1.5% from $916 in FY2026. Hancock County belongs to the Hancock County, IL 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 Hancock County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$648	$632	+2.5%	$584 – $712
1 bedroom	$772	$791	−2.4%	$695 – $849
2 bedrooms	$930	$916	+1.5%	$837 – $1,023
3 bedrooms	$1,116	$1,111	+0.5%	$1,005 – $1,227
4 bedrooms	$1,222	$1,213	+0.7%	$1,100 – $1,344

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 Hancock County that is typically $837 to $1,023 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?

$42,019median income of renter households

$782Median gross rent, all units

22%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

40%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $42,019 can afford about $1,050 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $930 is $120 (11.5%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $37,200 a year under the 30% rule, or $33,480 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Hancock County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$782 ±$54
Median income of renter households	$42,019 ±$11,558
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	40.2% ±9.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	16.5% ±5.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,255

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$617	$782	+26.7%
Median renter household income	$33,861	$42,019	+24.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	35.0%	40.2%	+5.2 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 Hancock County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $90,300 (FY2025: $91,900, −1.7%). 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%)	$19,000 −1.6%	$21,700 −1.6%	$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%)	$31,650 −1.7%	$36,150 −1.8%	$40,650 −1.8%	$45,150 −1.7%	$48,800 −1.7%	$52,400 −1.8%	$56,000 −1.8%	$59,600 −1.8%
Low income (80%)	$50,600 −1.7%	$57,800 −1.7%	$65,050 −1.7%	$72,250 −1.7%	$78,050 −1.7%	$83,850 −1.7%	$89,600 −1.7%	$95,400 −1.7%

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.