Kent County, MD: 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).

$1,2412-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,1401-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$89,60080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$112,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Kent County is $1,241 a month, down 0.4% from $1,246 in FY2026. Kent County belongs to the Kent County, MD 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 Kent County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$956	$1,062	−10.0%	$861 – $1,051
1 bedroom	$1,140	$1,137	+0.3%	$1,026 – $1,254
2 bedrooms	$1,241	$1,246	−0.4%	$1,117 – $1,365
3 bedrooms	$1,603	$1,635	−2.0%	$1,443 – $1,763
4 bedrooms	$2,050	$2,090	−1.9%	$1,845 – $2,255

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 Kent County that is typically $1,117 to $1,365 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?

$43,741median income of renter households

$1,209Median gross rent, all units

33%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

60%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $43,741 can afford about $1,094 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,241 is $147 (13.5%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $49,640 a year under the 30% rule, or $44,676 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Kent County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,209 ±$89
Median income of renter households	$43,741 ±$3,472
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	59.6% ±9.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	28.3% ±9.5
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	2,004

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,007	$1,209	+20.1%
Median renter household income	$36,500	$43,741	+19.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	57.4%	59.6%	+2.2 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 Kent County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $112,000 (FY2025: $113,000, −0.9%). 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%)	$23,550 +0.4%	$26,900 +0.4%	$30,250 +0.3%	$33,600 +0.4%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$39,200 +0.4%	$44,800 +0.4%	$50,400 +0.5%	$56,000 +0.4%	$60,500 +0.5%	$65,000 +0.5%	$69,450 +0.4%	$73,950 +0.5%
Low income (80%)	$62,750 +0.5%	$71,700 +0.4%	$80,650 +0.4%	$89,600 +0.4%	$96,800 +0.5%	$103,950 +0.4%	$111,150 +0.5%	$118,300 +0.5%

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.