Dubuque 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).

$1,1312-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8911-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$85,05080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$106,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Dubuque County is $1,131 a month, up 5.0% from $1,077 in FY2026. Dubuque County belongs to the Dubuque, IA MSA 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 Dubuque County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$788	$774	+1.8%	$710 – $866
1 bedroom	$891	$841	+5.9%	$802 – $980
2 bedrooms	$1,131	$1,077	+5.0%	$1,018 – $1,244
3 bedrooms	$1,516	$1,450	+4.6%	$1,365 – $1,667
4 bedrooms	$1,865	$1,807	+3.2%	$1,679 – $2,051

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 Dubuque County that is typically $1,018 to $1,244 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?

$40,776median income of renter households

$959Median gross rent, all units

28%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

46%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $40,776 can afford about $1,019 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,131 is $112 (10.9%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $45,240 a year under the 30% rule, or $40,716 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Dubuque County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$959 ±$26
Median income of renter households	$40,776 ±$1,862
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	45.8% ±4.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	28.6% ±4.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	10,088

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$783	$959	+22.5%
Median renter household income	$32,530	$40,776	+25.3%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	43.6%	45.8%	+2.2 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 $970 to $1,320 depending on the ZIP code.

All 22 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
52001	$790	$900	$1,140	$1,530	$1,880
52002	$870	$980	$1,250	$1,680	$2,060
52003	$780	$880	$1,120	$1,500	$1,850
52004	$790	$890	$1,130	$1,510	$1,860
52031	$760	$790	$1,020	$1,340	$1,630
52032	$740	$820	$1,050	$1,400	$1,630
52033	$730	$830	$1,050	$1,400	$1,630
52039	$820	$920	$1,170	$1,570	$1,920
52040	$840	$970	$1,200	$1,580	$1,980
52045	$730	$830	$1,050	$1,410	$1,730
52046	$830	$940	$1,190	$1,590	$1,960
52052	$710	$760	$970	$1,310	$1,630
52053	$700	$760	$970	$1,310	$1,630
52054	$700	$760	$970	$1,310	$1,630
52056	$700	$780	$990	$1,310	$1,630
52065	$700	$790	$1,000	$1,340	$1,650
52068	$850	$960	$1,220	$1,630	$2,010
52073	$920	$1,040	$1,320	$1,770	$2,180
52078	$700	$760	$970	$1,310	$1,630
52079	$730	$780	$1,010	$1,330	$1,630
52099	$790	$890	$1,130	$1,510	$1,860
52237	$700	$760	$970	$1,310	$1,630

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

HUD income limits for Dubuque County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $106,300 (FY2025: $102,700, +3.5%). 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%)	$22,350 +3.5%	$25,550 +3.7%	$28,750 +3.6%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$37,250 +3.6%	$42,550 +3.5%	$47,850 +3.5%	$53,150 +3.5%	$57,450 +3.5%	$61,700 +3.5%	$65,950 +3.5%	$70,200 +3.5%
Low income (80%)	$59,550 +3.5%	$68,050 +3.5%	$76,550 +3.5%	$85,050 +3.5%	$91,900 +3.5%	$98,700 +3.6%	$105,500 +3.5%	$112,300 +3.6%

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.