Hamilton County, KS: 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).

$1,2352-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9441-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$70,15080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$87,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Hamilton County is $1,235 a month, up 14.5% from $1,079 in FY2026. Hamilton County belongs to the Hamilton County, KS 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 Hamilton County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$908	$790	+14.9%	$818 – $998
1 bedroom	$944	$822	+14.8%	$850 – $1,038
2 bedrooms	$1,235	$1,079	+14.5%	$1,112 – $1,358
3 bedrooms	$1,472	$1,294	+13.8%	$1,325 – $1,619
4 bedrooms	$1,822	$1,570	+16.1%	$1,640 – $2,004

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 Hamilton County that is typically $1,112 to $1,358 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?

$70,250median household income (renter figure not published here)

$909Median gross rent, all units (low reliability)

16%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

31%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $70,250 can afford about $1,756 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,235 is $521 (29.7%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $49,400 a year under the 30% rule, or $44,460 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Hamilton County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$909 ±$454
Median household income (renter figure not published here)	$70,250 ±$13,794
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	30.6% ±21.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	16.7% ±21.3
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	144

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$668	$909	+36.1%
Median renter household income	$44,340	$70,250	+58.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	17.6%	30.6%	+13.0 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 Hamilton County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $87,700 (FY2025: $80,900, +8.4%). 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%)	$18,450 +4.2%	$21,640 +2.3%	$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%)	$30,700 +4.2%	$35,100 +4.3%	$39,500 +4.4%	$43,850 +4.3%	$47,400 +4.3%	$50,900 +4.3%	$54,400 +4.3%	$57,900 +4.2%
Low income (80%)	$49,150 +4.2%	$56,150 +4.3%	$63,150 +4.2%	$70,150 +4.2%	$75,800 +4.3%	$81,400 +4.2%	$87,000 +4.2%	$92,600 +4.2%

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.