Marion 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).

$1,0212-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8261-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$83,75080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$104,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Marion County is $1,021 a month, up 0.5% from $1,016 in FY2026. Marion County belongs to the Marion 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 Marion County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$711	$701	+1.4%	$640 – $782
1 bedroom	$826	$808	+2.2%	$744 – $908
2 bedrooms	$1,021	$1,016	+0.5%	$919 – $1,123
3 bedrooms	$1,217	$1,218	−0.1%	$1,096 – $1,338
4 bedrooms	$1,378	$1,356	+1.6%	$1,241 – $1,515

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 Marion County that is typically $919 to $1,123 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?

$48,680median income of renter households

$884Median gross rent, all units

22%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

38%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $48,680 can afford about $1,217 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,021 is $196 (16.1%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,840 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,756 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Marion County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$884 ±$35
Median income of renter households	$48,680 ±$4,934
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	38.2% ±6.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	18.7% ±4.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	2,827

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$721	$884	+22.6%
Median renter household income	$42,911	$48,680	+13.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	30.0%	38.2%	+8.2 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.

HUD income limits for Marion County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $104,700 (FY2025: $105,500, −0.8%). 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%)	$22,000 ±0.0%	$25,150 ±0.0%	$28,300 ±0.0%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$36,650 +0.1%	$41,900 +0.1%	$47,150 +0.1%	$52,350 +0.1%	$56,550 +0.1%	$60,750 +0.1%	$64,950 +0.2%	$69,150 +0.1%
Low income (80%)	$58,650 +0.1%	$67,000 ±0.0%	$75,400 +0.1%	$83,750 +0.1%	$90,450 +0.1%	$97,150 +0.1%	$103,850 +0.0%	$110,550 +0.0%

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.