Bremer 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).

$1,0232-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7821-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$86,65080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$108,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Bremer County is $1,023 a month, up 4.6% from $978 in FY2026. Bremer County belongs to the Bremer 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 Bremer County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$712	$674	+5.6%	$641 – $783
1 bedroom	$782	$745	+5.0%	$704 – $860
2 bedrooms	$1,023	$978	+4.6%	$921 – $1,125
3 bedrooms	$1,343	$1,290	+4.1%	$1,209 – $1,477
4 bedrooms	$1,349	$1,295	+4.2%	$1,215 – $1,483

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 Bremer County that is typically $921 to $1,125 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?

$50,880median income of renter households

$921Median gross rent, all units

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

33%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $50,880 can afford about $1,272 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,023 is $249 (19.6%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,920 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,828 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Bremer County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$921 ±$78
Median income of renter households	$50,880 ±$10,741
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	33.2% ±7.3
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	14.9% ±5.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,846

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$661	$921	+39.3%
Median renter household income	$35,321	$50,880	+44.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	39.2%	33.2%	−6.0 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 $1,310 depending on the ZIP code.

All 15 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
50613	$910	$1,000	$1,310	$1,670	$2,190
50622	$660	$730	$950	$1,230	$1,590
50626	$660	$730	$950	$1,230	$1,590
50629	$690	$730	$950	$1,260	$1,590
50630	$690	$790	$930	$1,260	$1,300
50631	$720	$800	$1,020	$1,350	$1,360
50645	$750	$850	$1,010	$1,360	$1,380
50647	$810	$880	$1,150	$1,470	$1,710
50658	$690	$780	$930	$1,240	$1,280
50666	$650	$710	$930	$1,210	$1,240
50668	$660	$730	$950	$1,230	$1,590
50670	$800	$820	$1,080	$1,290	$1,530
50674	$760	$840	$1,090	$1,430	$1,440
50676	$690	$760	$990	$1,300	$1,310
50677	$770	$840	$1,100	$1,440	$1,450

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

HUD income limits for Bremer County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $108,300 (FY2025: $107,000, +1.2%). 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%)	$22,750 +1.1%	$26,000 +1.2%	$29,250 +1.2%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$37,950 +1.3%	$43,350 +1.3%	$48,750 +1.2%	$54,150 +1.2%	$58,500 +1.2%	$62,850 +1.2%	$67,150 +1.2%	$71,500 +1.2%
Low income (80%)	$60,700 +1.3%	$69,350 +1.2%	$78,000 +1.2%	$86,650 +1.2%	$93,600 +1.2%	$100,550 +1.3%	$107,450 +1.2%	$114,400 +1.2%

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.