Linn 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).

$1,0542-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8061-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$84,25080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$105,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Linn County is $1,054 a month, down 1.6% from $1,071 in FY2026. Linn County belongs to the Cedar Rapids, 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 Linn County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$734	$738	−0.5%	$661 – $807
1 bedroom	$806	$816	−1.2%	$726 – $886
2 bedrooms	$1,054	$1,071	−1.6%	$949 – $1,159
3 bedrooms	$1,459	$1,490	−2.1%	$1,314 – $1,604
4 bedrooms	$1,762	$1,797	−1.9%	$1,586 – $1,938

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 Linn County that is typically $949 to $1,159 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?

$42,870median income of renter households

$945Median gross rent, all units

26%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

45%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $42,870 can afford about $1,072 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,054 is $18 (1.7%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $42,160 a year under the 30% rule, or $37,944 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Linn County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$945 ±$39
Median income of renter households	$42,870 ±$2,311
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	44.8% ±3.0
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	19.5% ±1.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	24,085

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$761	$945	+24.2%
Median renter household income	$34,318	$42,870	+24.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	40.8%	44.8%	+4.0 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 $970 to $1,580 depending on the ZIP code.

All 36 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
52202	$670	$740	$970	$1,350	$1,620
52203	$800	$870	$1,030	$1,430	$1,730
52205	$780	$890	$1,130	$1,480	$1,620
52213	$790	$870	$1,140	$1,560	$1,850
52214	$720	$790	$1,030	$1,430	$1,720
52218	$670	$760	$970	$1,350	$1,620
52219	$720	$810	$1,040	$1,380	$1,620
52227	$800	$870	$1,090	$1,510	$1,820
52228	$1,100	$1,210	$1,580	$2,180	$2,620
52233	$670	$740	$970	$1,350	$1,620
52253	$800	$870	$1,030	$1,430	$1,730
52302	$720	$790	$1,030	$1,430	$1,720
52305	$670	$740	$970	$1,350	$1,620
52310	$670	$760	$970	$1,350	$1,620
52314	$800	$870	$1,030	$1,430	$1,730
52324	$710	$780	$1,020	$1,370	$1,620
52328	$740	$820	$1,080	$1,510	$1,800
52332	$810	$890	$1,160	$1,500	$1,620
52333	$1,020	$1,090	$1,280	$1,770	$2,130
52336	$810	$890	$1,160	$1,610	$1,940
52338	$930	$990	$1,170	$1,620	$1,960
52341	$730	$800	$1,050	$1,440	$1,720
52344	$670	$740	$970	$1,350	$1,620
52351	$990	$1,090	$1,410	$1,920	$2,250
52352	$740	$800	$1,050	$1,430	$1,690
52401	$670	$740	$970	$1,350	$1,620
52402	$810	$890	$1,170	$1,620	$1,960
52403	$710	$780	$1,020	$1,410	$1,700
52404	$800	$870	$1,080	$1,500	$1,810
52405	$850	$930	$1,220	$1,690	$2,040
52406	$730	$800	$1,050	$1,450	$1,760
52408	$730	$800	$1,050	$1,450	$1,760
52409	$730	$800	$1,050	$1,450	$1,760
52410	$730	$800	$1,050	$1,450	$1,760
52411	$710	$770	$1,010	$1,400	$1,680
52498	$730	$800	$1,050	$1,450	$1,760

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

HUD income limits for Linn County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $105,300 (FY2025: $101,600, +3.6%). 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%)	$22,150 +3.7%	$25,300 +3.7%	$28,450 +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%)	$36,900 +3.7%	$42,150 +3.7%	$47,400 +3.6%	$52,650 +3.6%	$56,900 +3.6%	$61,100 +3.6%	$65,300 +3.7%	$69,500 +3.6%
Low income (80%)	$59,000 +3.6%	$67,400 +3.6%	$75,850 +3.6%	$84,250 +3.6%	$91,000 +3.6%	$97,750 +3.6%	$104,500 +3.6%	$111,250 +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.