Cedar 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).

$9692-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7411-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$79,35080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$98,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Cedar County is $969 a month, up 0.3% from $966 in FY2026. Cedar County belongs to the Cedar County, IA 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 Cedar County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$720	$717	+0.4%	$648 – $792
1 bedroom	$741	$736	+0.7%	$667 – $815
2 bedrooms	$969	$966	+0.3%	$873 – $1,065
3 bedrooms	$1,269	$1,259	+0.8%	$1,143 – $1,395
4 bedrooms	$1,274	$1,279	−0.4%	$1,147 – $1,401

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 Cedar County that is typically $873 to $1,065 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?

$41,487median income of renter households

$879Median gross rent, all units

25%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

50%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $41,487 can afford about $1,037 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $969 is $68 (6.6%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $38,760 a year under the 30% rule, or $34,884 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Cedar County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$879 ±$33
Median income of renter households	$41,487 ±$3,946
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	49.7% ±8.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	25.3% ±5.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,279

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$719	$879	+22.3%
Median renter household income	$44,342	$41,487	−6.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	23.0%	49.7%	+26.7 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 Cedar County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $98,900 (FY2025: $104,400, −5.3%). 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%)	$20,850 −5.0%	$23,800 −5.0%	$27,320 −3.1%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$34,750 −4.9%	$39,750 −4.9%	$44,650 −5.0%	$49,600 −5.0%	$53,600 −5.0%	$57,600 −5.0%	$61,550 −4.9%	$65,550 −4.9%
Low income (80%)	$55,550 −5.0%	$63,500 −4.9%	$71,450 −4.9%	$79,350 −5.0%	$85,700 −5.0%	$92,100 −5.0%	$98,400 −5.0%	$104,750 −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.