Palo Alto 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

$7091-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$83,30080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$104,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Palo Alto County is $927 a month, up 0.9% from $919 in FY2026. Palo Alto County belongs to the Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto 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	$709	$700	+1.3%	$639 – $779
2 bedrooms	$927	$919	+0.9%	$835 – $1,019
3 bedrooms	$1,247	$1,222	+2.0%	$1,123 – $1,371
4 bedrooms	$1,251	$1,227	+2.0%	$1,126 – $1,376

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 Palo Alto 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?

$33,839median income of renter households

$638Median gross rent, all units

23%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

42%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $33,839 can afford about $846 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $927 is $81 (9.6%) more 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.

Palo Alto County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$638 ±$41
Median income of renter households	$33,839 ±$5,860
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	42.4% ±10.0
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	14.4% ±7.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	783

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$580	$638	+10.0%
Median renter household income	$34,732	$33,839	−2.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	31.4%	42.4%	+11.0 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.

HUD income limits for Palo Alto County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $104,100 (FY2025: $102,000, +2.1%). 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%)	$21,900 +4.5%	$25,000 +4.4%	$28,150 +4.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$36,450 +4.4%	$41,650 +4.4%	$46,850 +4.5%	$52,050 +4.4%	$56,250 +4.5%	$60,400 +4.4%	$64,550 +4.4%	$68,750 +4.4%
Low income (80%)	$58,350 +4.5%	$66,650 +4.5%	$75,000 +4.5%	$83,300 +4.5%	$90,000 +4.5%	$96,650 +4.4%	$103,300 +4.4%	$110,000 +4.5%

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.