Houghton County, MI: 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).

$1,0332-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8061-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$71,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$89,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Houghton County is $1,033 a month, up 6.2% from $973 in FY2026. Houghton County belongs to the Houghton County, MI 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 Houghton County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$801	$795	+0.8%	$721 – $881
1 bedroom	$806	$800	+0.8%	$726 – $886
2 bedrooms	$1,033	$973	+6.2%	$930 – $1,136
3 bedrooms	$1,430	$1,353	+5.7%	$1,287 – $1,573
4 bedrooms	$1,727	$1,632	+5.8%	$1,555 – $1,899

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 Houghton County that is typically $930 to $1,136 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?

$32,103median income of renter households

$840Median gross rent, all units

31%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

57%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $32,103 can afford about $803 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,033 is $230 (28.7%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $41,320 a year under the 30% rule, or $37,188 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Houghton County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$840 ±$73
Median income of renter households	$32,103 ±$3,944
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	56.6% ±7.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	29.8% ±5.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	3,635

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$640	$840	+31.3%
Median renter household income	$19,418	$32,103	+65.3%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	54.0%	56.6%	+2.6 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 Houghton County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $89,400 (FY2025: $88,200, +1.4%). 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%)	$18,800 +1.3%	$21,640 +2.1%	$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%)	$31,300 +1.3%	$35,800 +1.4%	$40,250 +1.4%	$44,700 +1.4%	$48,300 +1.4%	$51,900 +1.4%	$55,450 +1.4%	$59,050 +1.4%
Low income (80%)	$50,050 +1.3%	$57,200 +1.3%	$64,350 +1.3%	$71,500 +1.3%	$77,250 +1.4%	$82,950 +1.3%	$88,700 +1.4%	$94,400 +1.3%

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.