Jefferson 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).

$1,1722-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9131-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$79,05080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$98,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Jefferson County is $1,172 a month, up 10.9% from $1,057 in FY2026. Jefferson County belongs to the Topeka, KS MSA 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 Jefferson County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$866	$792	+9.3%	$780 – $952
1 bedroom	$913	$820	+11.3%	$822 – $1,004
2 bedrooms	$1,172	$1,057	+10.9%	$1,055 – $1,289
3 bedrooms	$1,564	$1,392	+12.4%	$1,408 – $1,720
4 bedrooms	$1,586	$1,411	+12.4%	$1,428 – $1,744

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 Jefferson County that is typically $1,055 to $1,289 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?

$45,000median income of renter households

$835Median gross rent, all units

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

40%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $45,000 can afford about $1,125 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,172 is $47 (4.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $46,880 a year under the 30% rule, or $42,192 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Jefferson County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$835 ±$64
Median income of renter households	$45,000 ±$11,492
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	40.1% ±10.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	11.5% ±5.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	953

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$760	$835	+9.9%
Median renter household income	$46,215	$45,000	−2.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	24.2%	40.1%	+15.9 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 $960 to $1,610 depending on the ZIP code.

All 84 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
66002	$730	$810	$970	$1,340	$1,620
66044	$920	$1,050	$1,210	$1,680	$2,020
66050	$860	$990	$1,140	$1,580	$1,900
66054	$1,020	$1,080	$1,350	$1,800	$1,880
66058	$720	$740	$960	$1,270	$1,400
66060	$850	$900	$1,160	$1,560	$1,640
66066	$760	$800	$1,030	$1,370	$1,390
66070	$920	$970	$1,240	$1,650	$1,680
66073	$720	$750	$960	$1,280	$1,300
66086	$1,210	$1,320	$1,490	$1,950	$2,330
66088	$720	$750	$960	$1,280	$1,330
66095	$950	$960	$1,250	$1,490	$1,640
66097	$840	$890	$1,140	$1,520	$1,540
66401	$900	$950	$1,220	$1,630	$1,650
66402	$900	$950	$1,220	$1,630	$1,650
66407	$1,100	$1,180	$1,440	$1,970	$2,310
66409	$890	$970	$1,200	$1,620	$1,790
66413	$720	$750	$960	$1,280	$1,300
66414	$720	$750	$960	$1,280	$1,300
66416	$720	$750	$960	$1,280	$1,330
66418	$900	$950	$1,210	$1,620	$1,670
66419	$770	$810	$1,040	$1,390	$1,420
66420	$890	$930	$1,200	$1,600	$1,620
66422	$810	$870	$1,050	$1,450	$1,730
66423	$720	$750	$960	$1,280	$1,300
66428	$730	$780	$990	$1,260	$1,570
66429	$850	$900	$1,150	$1,530	$1,560
66431	$1,170	$1,230	$1,580	$2,110	$2,140
66432	$790	$790	$970	$1,340	$1,620
66436	$720	$750	$960	$1,280	$1,330
66439	$720	$740	$960	$1,260	$1,350
66440	$860	$910	$1,170	$1,560	$1,580
66451	$720	$750	$960	$1,280	$1,300
66501	$900	$950	$1,220	$1,630	$1,650
66502	$840	$900	$1,080	$1,500	$1,810
66507	$920	$970	$1,240	$1,650	$1,680
66509	$960	$1,010	$1,300	$1,730	$1,760
66510	$720	$760	$980	$1,310	$1,330
66512	$750	$790	$1,020	$1,360	$1,380
66516	$820	$860	$1,110	$1,470	$1,500
66523	$740	$780	$1,000	$1,330	$1,360
66524	$810	$910	$1,070	$1,480	$1,790
66526	$930	$980	$1,250	$1,670	$1,750
66528	$720	$760	$970	$1,280	$1,310
66533	$850	$900	$1,150	$1,530	$1,560
66536	$790	$800	$970	$1,340	$1,620
66537	$890	$930	$1,200	$1,600	$1,620
66539	$790	$830	$1,070	$1,430	$1,450
66540	$790	$790	$990	$1,340	$1,620
66542	$970	$1,020	$1,310	$1,750	$1,790
66543	$980	$1,040	$1,330	$1,770	$1,800
66546	$850	$900	$1,150	$1,540	$1,560
66547	$810	$870	$1,040	$1,440	$1,730
66550	$780	$830	$1,060	$1,380	$1,500
66552	$720	$750	$960	$1,280	$1,330
66601	$890	$930	$1,200	$1,600	$1,620
66603	$720	$750	$960	$1,280	$1,300
66604	$980	$1,040	$1,330	$1,770	$1,800
66605	$810	$860	$1,100	$1,470	$1,490
66606	$890	$940	$1,210	$1,610	$1,640
66607	$740	$780	$1,000	$1,330	$1,350
66608	$780	$830	$1,060	$1,410	$1,430
66609	$970	$1,030	$1,320	$1,760	$1,790
66610	$1,070	$1,110	$1,430	$1,880	$1,910
66611	$840	$890	$1,140	$1,520	$1,540
66612	$720	$750	$960	$1,280	$1,300
66614	$960	$1,010	$1,300	$1,730	$1,760
66615	$1,110	$1,170	$1,500	$2,000	$2,030
66616	$900	$950	$1,220	$1,630	$1,650
66617	$1,000	$1,060	$1,360	$1,810	$1,840
66618	$1,070	$1,130	$1,450	$1,930	$1,960
66619	$1,190	$1,250	$1,610	$2,150	$2,180
66620	$890	$930	$1,200	$1,600	$1,620
66621	$950	$1,010	$1,290	$1,720	$1,750
66622	$980	$1,030	$1,320	$1,760	$1,790
66647	$890	$930	$1,200	$1,600	$1,620
66667	$890	$930	$1,200	$1,600	$1,620
66675	$890	$930	$1,200	$1,600	$1,620
66683	$890	$930	$1,200	$1,600	$1,620
66834	$900	$950	$1,200	$1,590	$1,700
66846	$720	$740	$960	$1,260	$1,520
66856	$750	$780	$1,020	$1,260	$1,490
66868	$830	$880	$1,130	$1,470	$1,810
66871	$800	$830	$1,090	$1,300	$1,610

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

HUD income limits for Jefferson County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $98,800 (FY2025: $99,100, −0.3%). 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%)	$20,800 +3.7%	$23,750 +3.7%	$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%)	$34,600 +3.6%	$39,550 +3.7%	$44,500 +3.7%	$49,400 +3.7%	$53,400 +3.7%	$57,350 +3.7%	$61,300 +3.7%	$65,250 +3.7%
Low income (80%)	$55,350 +3.7%	$63,250 +3.7%	$71,150 +3.6%	$79,050 +3.7%	$85,400 +3.7%	$91,700 +3.7%	$98,050 +3.7%	$104,350 +3.7%

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.