Ripley County, IN: 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).

$1,0532-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8051-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$73,35080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$91,200Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Ripley County is $1,053 a month, up 6.7% from $987 in FY2026. Ripley County belongs to the Ripley County, IN 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 Ripley County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$788	$681	+15.7%	$710 – $866
1 bedroom	$805	$752	+7.0%	$725 – $885
2 bedrooms	$1,053	$987	+6.7%	$948 – $1,158
3 bedrooms	$1,363	$1,302	+4.7%	$1,227 – $1,499
4 bedrooms	$1,384	$1,307	+5.9%	$1,246 – $1,522

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 Ripley County that is typically $948 to $1,158 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?

$38,289median income of renter households

$839Median gross rent, all units

26%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

44%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $38,289 can afford about $957 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,053 is $96 (10.0%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $42,120 a year under the 30% rule, or $37,908 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Ripley County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$839 ±$45
Median income of renter households	$38,289 ±$5,223
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	44.0% ±7.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	25.1% ±7.6
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	2,312

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$693	$839	+21.1%
Median renter household income	$30,914	$38,289	+23.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	38.7%	44.0%	+5.3 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 Ripley County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $91,200 (FY2025: $96,500, −5.5%). 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%)	$19,250 −5.2%	$22,000 −5.2%	$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%)	$32,150 −4.9%	$36,700 −4.9%	$41,300 −4.9%	$45,850 −5.0%	$49,550 −5.0%	$53,200 −5.0%	$56,900 −4.9%	$60,550 −4.9%
Low income (80%)	$51,350 −5.0%	$58,750 −4.9%	$66,050 −5.0%	$73,350 −5.0%	$79,250 −5.0%	$85,150 −5.0%	$91,000 −5.0%	$96,900 −5.0%

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.