Howard 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).

$9272-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8521-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$75,30080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$86,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Howard County is $927 a month, up 0.9% from $919 in FY2026. Howard County belongs to the Howard 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 Howard County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$688	$682	+0.9%	$620 – $756
1 bedroom	$852	$838	+1.7%	$767 – $937
2 bedrooms	$927	$919	+0.9%	$835 – $1,019
3 bedrooms	$1,284	$1,278	+0.5%	$1,156 – $1,412
4 bedrooms	$1,523	$1,476	+3.2%	$1,371 – $1,675

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 Howard County that is typically $835 to $1,019 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?

$48,750median income of renter households

$713Median gross rent, all units

18%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

27%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $48,750 can afford about $1,219 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $927 is $292 (23.9%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $37,080 a year under the 30% rule, or $33,372 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Howard County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$713 ±$28
Median income of renter households	$48,750 ±$7,741
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	27.4% ±10.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	12.7% ±8.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	741

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$622	$713	+14.6%
Median renter household income	$36,006	$48,750	+35.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	26.7%	27.4%	+0.7 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 Howard County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $86,700 (FY2025: $87,700, −1.1%). 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%)	$19,800 +2.3%	$22,600 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$32,950 +2.3%	$37,650 +2.3%	$42,350 +2.3%	$47,050 +2.3%	$50,850 +2.3%	$54,600 +2.2%	$58,350 +2.3%	$62,150 +2.3%
Low income (80%)	$52,750 +2.3%	$60,250 +2.3%	$67,800 +2.3%	$75,300 +2.3%	$81,350 +2.3%	$87,350 +2.3%	$93,400 +2.3%	$99,400 +2.3%

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.