Dickinson 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).

$1,0912-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8341-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$88,10080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$110,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Dickinson County is $1,091 a month, unchanged from FY2026. Dickinson County belongs to the Dickinson 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 Dickinson County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$829	$826	+0.4%	$747 – $911
1 bedroom	$834	$831	+0.4%	$751 – $917
2 bedrooms	$1,091	$1,091	±0.0%	$982 – $1,200
3 bedrooms	$1,424	$1,314	+8.4%	$1,282 – $1,566
4 bedrooms	$1,434	$1,445	−0.8%	$1,291 – $1,577

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 Dickinson County that is typically $982 to $1,200 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?

$45,192median income of renter households

$922Median gross rent, all units

24%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

40%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $45,192 can afford about $1,130 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,091 is $39 (3.4%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $43,640 a year under the 30% rule, or $39,276 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Dickinson County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$922 ±$31
Median income of renter households	$45,192 ±$9,704
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	39.5% ±6.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	23.6% ±5.3
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,816

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$844	$922	+9.2%
Median renter household income	$32,834	$45,192	+37.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	47.5%	39.5%	−8.0 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.

HUD income limits for Dickinson County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $110,100 (FY2025: $110,500, −0.4%). 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%)	$23,150 +0.7%	$26,450 +0.8%	$29,750 +0.7%	$33,050 +0.8%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$38,550 +0.8%	$44,050 +0.8%	$49,550 +0.8%	$55,050 +0.7%	$59,500 +0.8%	$63,900 +0.8%	$68,300 +0.8%	$72,700 +0.8%
Low income (80%)	$61,700 +0.8%	$70,500 +0.8%	$79,300 +0.8%	$88,100 +0.8%	$95,150 +0.8%	$102,200 +0.8%	$109,250 +0.8%	$116,300 +0.8%

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.