Benton County, IA: 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).

$9822-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7511-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$90,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$113,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Benton County is $982 a month, up 2.7% from $956 in FY2026. Benton County belongs to the Benton County, IA 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 Benton County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$684	$659	+3.8%	$616 – $752
1 bedroom	$751	$729	+3.0%	$676 – $826
2 bedrooms	$982	$956	+2.7%	$884 – $1,080
3 bedrooms	$1,267	$1,209	+4.8%	$1,141 – $1,393
4 bedrooms	$1,291	$1,348	−4.2%	$1,162 – $1,420

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 Benton County that is typically $884 to $1,080 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?

$37,623median income of renter households

$826Median gross rent, all units

26%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 $37,623 can afford about $941 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $982 is $41 (4.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $39,280 a year under the 30% rule, or $35,352 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Benton County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$826 ±$142
Median income of renter households	$37,623 ±$5,544
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	35.1% ±10.9
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	21.3% ±10.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,269

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$640	$826	+29.1%
Median renter household income	$31,078	$37,623	+21.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	32.6%	35.1%	+2.5 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 $930 to $1,580 depending on the ZIP code.

All 26 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
50651	$710	$780	$1,020	$1,310	$1,680
52206	$650	$710	$930	$1,200	$1,220
52208	$680	$770	$970	$1,260	$1,310
52209	$680	$750	$970	$1,260	$1,310
52210	$820	$830	$1,080	$1,500	$1,750
52213	$790	$870	$1,140	$1,560	$1,850
52224	$680	$710	$930	$1,180	$1,280
52225	$750	$820	$1,070	$1,380	$1,430
52228	$1,100	$1,210	$1,580	$2,180	$2,620
52229	$750	$820	$1,070	$1,380	$1,410
52249	$820	$900	$1,180	$1,520	$1,550
52257	$720	$800	$1,030	$1,340	$1,400
52301	$750	$840	$1,010	$1,390	$1,680
52313	$800	$880	$1,150	$1,480	$1,510
52315	$650	$710	$930	$1,200	$1,220
52318	$940	$1,030	$1,320	$1,740	$1,850
52324	$710	$780	$1,020	$1,370	$1,620
52332	$810	$890	$1,160	$1,500	$1,620
52345	$670	$730	$960	$1,240	$1,260
52346	$770	$840	$1,100	$1,420	$1,530
52349	$650	$710	$930	$1,200	$1,220
52351	$990	$1,090	$1,410	$1,920	$2,250
52352	$740	$800	$1,050	$1,430	$1,690
52354	$760	$840	$1,070	$1,410	$1,530
52404	$800	$870	$1,080	$1,500	$1,810
52405	$850	$930	$1,220	$1,690	$2,040

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

HUD income limits for Benton County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $113,100 (FY2025: $113,300, −0.2%). 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%)	$23,800 +2.1%	$27,200 +2.3%	$30,600 +2.2%	$33,950 +2.1%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$39,600 +2.1%	$45,250 +2.1%	$50,900 +2.0%	$56,550 +2.1%	$61,100 +2.1%	$65,600 +2.0%	$70,150 +2.1%	$74,650 +2.1%
Low income (80%)	$63,350 +2.0%	$72,400 +2.0%	$81,450 +2.1%	$90,500 +2.1%	$97,750 +2.1%	$105,000 +2.1%	$112,250 +2.1%	$119,500 +2.1%

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.