Russell 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).

$9612-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8231-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$68,55080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$79,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Russell County is $961 a month, up 9.6% from $877 in FY2026. Russell County belongs to the Russell 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 Russell County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$707	$643	+10.0%	$637 – $777
1 bedroom	$823	$765	+7.6%	$741 – $905
2 bedrooms	$961	$877	+9.6%	$865 – $1,057
3 bedrooms	$1,196	$1,062	+12.6%	$1,077 – $1,315
4 bedrooms	$1,418	$1,276	+11.1%	$1,277 – $1,559

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 Russell County that is typically $865 to $1,057 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?

$45,282median income of renter households

$805Median gross rent, all units

21%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

29%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $45,282 can afford about $1,132 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $961 is $171 (15.1%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $38,440 a year under the 30% rule, or $34,596 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Russell County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$805 ±$97
Median income of renter households	$45,282 ±$20,476
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	28.8% ±12.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	11.5% ±9.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	611

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$636	$805	+26.6%
Median renter household income	$28,519	$45,282	+58.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	46.6%	28.8%	−17.8 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 Russell County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $79,000 (FY2025: $78,700, +0.4%). 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%)	$18,000 +1.7%	$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%)	$30,000 +1.9%	$34,300 +1.9%	$38,600 +2.0%	$42,850 +1.9%	$46,300 +1.9%	$49,750 +1.9%	$53,150 +1.9%	$56,600 +1.9%
Low income (80%)	$48,000 +1.8%	$54,850 +1.9%	$61,700 +1.8%	$68,550 +1.9%	$74,050 +1.9%	$79,550 +1.9%	$85,050 +1.9%	$90,500 +1.9%

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.