Muscatine 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).

$1,0932-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8671-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$92,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Muscatine County is $1,093 a month, up 2.1% from $1,071 in FY2026. Muscatine County belongs to the Muscatine 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 Muscatine County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$812	$795	+2.1%	$731 – $893
1 bedroom	$867	$858	+1.0%	$781 – $953
2 bedrooms	$1,093	$1,071	+2.1%	$984 – $1,202
3 bedrooms	$1,315	$1,374	−4.3%	$1,184 – $1,446
4 bedrooms	$1,622	$1,605	+1.1%	$1,460 – $1,784

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 Muscatine County that is typically $984 to $1,202 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?

$40,166median income of renter households

$971Median gross rent, all units

29%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 $40,166 can afford about $1,004 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,093 is $89 (8.8%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $43,720 a year under the 30% rule, or $39,348 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Muscatine County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$971 ±$39
Median income of renter households	$40,166 ±$5,253
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	45.3% ±5.9
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	22.8% ±5.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	4,165

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$831	$971	+16.8%
Median renter household income	$40,667	$40,166	−1.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	37.8%	45.3%	+7.5 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 Muscatine County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $92,100 (FY2025: $95,300, −3.4%). 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%)	$19,800 −1.0%	$22,600 −1.1%	$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 −1.1%	$37,650 −1.1%	$42,350 −1.1%	$47,050 −1.1%	$50,850 −1.0%	$54,600 −1.1%	$58,350 −1.1%	$62,150 −1.0%
Low income (80%)	$52,750 −1.0%	$60,250 −1.1%	$67,800 −1.0%	$75,300 −1.1%	$81,350 −1.0%	$87,350 −1.1%	$93,400 −1.1%	$99,400 −1.1%

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.