Lafayette Parish, LA: 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).

$1,0922-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9711-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$72,25080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$90,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Lafayette Parish is $1,092 a month, up 7.2% from $1,019 in FY2026. Lafayette Parish belongs to the Lafayette, LA 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 Lafayette Parish by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$835	$779	+7.2%	$752 – $918
1 bedroom	$971	$898	+8.1%	$874 – $1,068
2 bedrooms	$1,092	$1,019	+7.2%	$983 – $1,201
3 bedrooms	$1,375	$1,301	+5.7%	$1,238 – $1,512
4 bedrooms	$1,607	$1,581	+1.6%	$1,447 – $1,767

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 Lafayette Parish that is typically $983 to $1,201 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?

$39,843median income of renter households

$1,057Median gross rent, all units

32%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

52%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $39,843 can afford about $996 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,092 is $96 (9.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $43,680 a year under the 30% rule, or $39,312 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Lafayette Parish, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,057 ±$25
Median income of renter households	$39,843 ±$3,392
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	51.7% ±3.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	28.3% ±3.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	31,335

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$874	$1,057	+20.9%
Median renter household income	$32,408	$39,843	+22.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	47.2%	51.7%	+4.5 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 $920 to $1,350 depending on the ZIP code.

All 29 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
70339	$730	$810	$920	$1,220	$1,430
70380	$780	$810	$1,020	$1,340	$1,650
70501	$770	$900	$1,010	$1,270	$1,490
70502	$850	$990	$1,110	$1,400	$1,630
70503	$910	$1,060	$1,190	$1,500	$1,750
70504	$850	$990	$1,110	$1,400	$1,630
70505	$850	$990	$1,110	$1,400	$1,630
70506	$890	$1,040	$1,170	$1,470	$1,720
70507	$760	$890	$1,000	$1,260	$1,470
70508	$990	$1,150	$1,290	$1,620	$1,900
70509	$850	$990	$1,110	$1,400	$1,630
70512	$710	$810	$920	$1,180	$1,430
70517	$770	$900	$1,010	$1,270	$1,490
70518	$830	$960	$1,080	$1,360	$1,600
70519	$750	$850	$990	$1,270	$1,550
70520	$830	$970	$1,090	$1,370	$1,600
70521	$710	$820	$920	$1,180	$1,430
70525	$710	$810	$960	$1,180	$1,430
70529	$710	$810	$920	$1,180	$1,430
70555	$990	$1,240	$1,350	$1,770	$1,790
70558	$960	$1,150	$1,280	$1,640	$1,810
70560	$720	$810	$970	$1,270	$1,600
70563	$790	$890	$1,070	$1,400	$1,770
70578	$710	$810	$930	$1,180	$1,430
70582	$710	$810	$920	$1,180	$1,430
70583	$760	$890	$1,000	$1,260	$1,470
70592	$850	$1,000	$1,120	$1,410	$1,670
70596	$850	$990	$1,110	$1,400	$1,630
70598	$850	$990	$1,110	$1,400	$1,630

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

HUD income limits for Lafayette Parish (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $90,300 (FY2025: $84,700, +6.6%). 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%)	$19,000 +6.7%	$21,700 +2.6%	$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%)	$31,650 +6.7%	$36,150 +6.6%	$40,650 +6.6%	$45,150 +6.6%	$48,800 +6.7%	$52,400 +6.6%	$56,000 +6.6%	$59,600 +6.5%
Low income (80%)	$50,600 +6.6%	$57,800 +6.6%	$65,050 +6.6%	$72,250 +6.6%	$78,050 +6.6%	$83,850 +6.7%	$89,600 +6.6%	$95,400 +6.7%

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.