Lawrence 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).

$9432-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7211-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$71,75080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$81,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Lawrence County is $943 a month, down 0.3% from $946 in FY2026. Lawrence County belongs to the Lawrence 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 Lawrence County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$657	$652	+0.8%	$592 – $722
1 bedroom	$721	$721	±0.0%	$649 – $793
2 bedrooms	$943	$946	−0.3%	$849 – $1,037
3 bedrooms	$1,153	$1,136	+1.5%	$1,038 – $1,268
4 bedrooms	$1,239	$1,253	−1.1%	$1,116 – $1,362

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 Lawrence County that is typically $849 to $1,037 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?

$42,994median income of renter households

$836Median gross rent, all units

23%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

35%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $42,994 can afford about $1,075 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $943 is $132 (12.3%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $37,720 a year under the 30% rule, or $33,948 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Lawrence County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$836 ±$59
Median income of renter households	$42,994 ±$7,234
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	34.5% ±7.3
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	9.6% ±3.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,213

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$628	$836	+33.1%
Median renter household income	$30,233	$42,994	+42.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	42.2%	34.5%	−7.7 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 Lawrence County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $81,400 (FY2025: $80,700, +0.9%). 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%)	$18,850 +3.6%	$21,640 +2.3%	$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%)	$31,400 +3.5%	$35,900 +3.6%	$40,400 +3.6%	$44,850 +3.6%	$48,450 +3.5%	$52,050 +3.6%	$55,650 +3.6%	$59,250 +3.6%
Low income (80%)	$50,250 +3.5%	$57,400 +3.5%	$64,600 +3.5%	$71,750 +3.5%	$77,500 +3.5%	$83,250 +3.5%	$89,000 +3.5%	$94,750 +3.6%

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.