Rapides 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).

$9952-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7961-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$66,25080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$83,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Rapides Parish is $995 a month, up 0.1% from $994 in FY2026. Rapides Parish belongs to the Alexandria, LA 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 Rapides Parish by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$757	$728	+4.0%	$682 – $832
1 bedroom	$796	$780	+2.1%	$717 – $875
2 bedrooms	$995	$994	+0.1%	$896 – $1,094
3 bedrooms	$1,341	$1,342	−0.1%	$1,207 – $1,475
4 bedrooms	$1,468	$1,523	−3.6%	$1,322 – $1,614

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 Rapides Parish that is typically $896 to $1,094 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?

$33,255median income of renter households

$950Median gross rent, all units

34%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

54%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $33,255 can afford about $831 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $995 is $164 (19.7%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $39,800 a year under the 30% rule, or $35,820 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Rapides Parish, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$950 ±$34
Median income of renter households	$33,255 ±$1,899
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	54.2% ±4.1
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	28.4% ±3.6
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	15,377

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$821	$950	+15.7%
Median renter household income	$28,766	$33,255	+15.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	53.3%	54.2%	+0.9 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 $900 to $1,170 depending on the ZIP code.

All 42 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
70656	$800	$810	$1,060	$1,360	$1,480
71301	$740	$780	$970	$1,310	$1,430
71302	$690	$730	$910	$1,230	$1,380
71303	$890	$940	$1,170	$1,580	$1,730
71306	$760	$800	$1,000	$1,350	$1,480
71307	$760	$800	$1,000	$1,350	$1,480
71315	$760	$800	$1,000	$1,350	$1,480
71322	$660	$710	$900	$1,210	$1,380
71323	$780	$830	$1,030	$1,390	$1,530
71325	$670	$710	$900	$1,210	$1,380
71328	$820	$870	$1,080	$1,460	$1,600
71330	$670	$730	$910	$1,210	$1,380
71346	$680	$710	$900	$1,210	$1,380
71348	$760	$800	$1,000	$1,350	$1,480
71351	$660	$730	$920	$1,210	$1,390
71359	$750	$790	$990	$1,330	$1,460
71360	$750	$790	$990	$1,330	$1,460
71361	$760	$800	$1,000	$1,350	$1,480
71365	$760	$800	$1,000	$1,350	$1,480
71367	$660	$710	$900	$1,210	$1,380
71404	$690	$790	$930	$1,270	$1,390
71405	$890	$940	$1,170	$1,580	$1,730
71407	$730	$770	$960	$1,300	$1,420
71409	$700	$740	$920	$1,240	$1,380
71417	$730	$770	$960	$1,290	$1,420
71423	$760	$800	$1,000	$1,350	$1,480
71424	$760	$800	$1,000	$1,350	$1,480
71427	$670	$740	$930	$1,230	$1,480
71430	$740	$800	$1,010	$1,360	$1,550
71432	$710	$760	$940	$1,270	$1,390
71433	$680	$710	$900	$1,210	$1,380
71438	$760	$810	$1,030	$1,360	$1,500
71447	$720	$720	$950	$1,210	$1,380
71448	$760	$800	$1,000	$1,350	$1,480
71454	$700	$760	$930	$1,260	$1,380
71455	$660	$740	$940	$1,220	$1,460
71463	$660	$810	$900	$1,210	$1,380
71466	$760	$800	$1,000	$1,350	$1,480
71467	$710	$740	$930	$1,250	$1,380
71472	$700	$750	$960	$1,250	$1,390
71477	$760	$800	$1,000	$1,350	$1,480
71485	$680	$710	$920	$1,250	$1,390

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

HUD income limits for Rapides Parish (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $83,300 (FY2025: $78,000, +6.8%). 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%)	$17,400 +9.8%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +7.2%	$54,650 +10.0%
Very low income (50%)	$28,950 +9.9%	$33,100 +10.0%	$37,250 +9.9%	$41,400 +10.0%	$44,750 +10.0%	$48,050 +10.0%	$51,350 +10.0%	$54,650 +10.0%
Low income (80%)	$46,400 +10.0%	$53,000 +10.0%	$59,650 +10.0%	$66,250 +10.0%	$71,550 +9.9%	$76,850 +9.9%	$82,150 +9.9%	$87,450 +9.9%

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.