Washington 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).

$1,0022-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7661-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$93,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Washington County is $1,002 a month, up 4.2% from $962 in FY2026. Washington County belongs to the Washington County, 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 Washington County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$761	$728	+4.5%	$685 – $837
1 bedroom	$766	$733	+4.5%	$690 – $842
2 bedrooms	$1,002	$962	+4.2%	$902 – $1,102
3 bedrooms	$1,278	$1,191	+7.3%	$1,151 – $1,405
4 bedrooms	$1,317	$1,274	+3.4%	$1,186 – $1,448

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 Washington County that is typically $902 to $1,102 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?

$45,303median income of renter households

$879Median gross rent, all units

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

32%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $45,303 can afford about $1,133 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,002 is $131 (11.5%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,080 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,072 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Washington County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$879 ±$63
Median income of renter households	$45,303 ±$5,790
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	32.1% ±6.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	12.7% ±4.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	2,102

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$754	$879	+16.6%
Median renter household income	$38,474	$45,303	+17.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	35.2%	32.1%	−3.1 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 $930 to $1,140 depending on the ZIP code.

All 13 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
52201	$700	$710	$930	$1,180	$1,220
52247	$800	$870	$1,030	$1,430	$1,730
52248	$690	$750	$930	$1,170	$1,240
52327	$870	$890	$1,140	$1,480	$1,730
52353	$840	$840	$1,100	$1,400	$1,450
52356	$800	$870	$1,030	$1,430	$1,730
52359	$700	$710	$930	$1,180	$1,220
52540	$740	$750	$980	$1,170	$1,300
52585	$740	$760	$980	$1,170	$1,300
52621	$720	$730	$960	$1,220	$1,280
52641	$740	$750	$980	$1,290	$1,300
52654	$740	$750	$980	$1,210	$1,300
52738	$690	$710	$930	$1,130	$1,290

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

HUD income limits for Washington County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $93,800 (FY2025: $94,800, −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 −0.8%	$22,600 −0.9%	$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 −0.8%	$37,650 −0.8%	$42,350 −0.8%	$47,050 −0.7%	$50,850 −0.7%	$54,600 −0.7%	$58,350 −0.8%	$62,150 −0.7%
Low income (80%)	$52,750 −0.7%	$60,250 −0.7%	$67,800 −0.7%	$75,300 −0.7%	$81,350 −0.7%	$87,350 −0.7%	$93,400 −0.7%	$99,400 −0.7%

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.