Ionia 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).

$1,2382-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9461-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$73,30080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$98,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Ionia County is $1,238 a month, up 2.4% from $1,209 in FY2026. Ionia County belongs to the Ionia County, MI 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 Ionia County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$862	$834	+3.4%	$776 – $948
1 bedroom	$946	$921	+2.7%	$852 – $1,040
2 bedrooms	$1,238	$1,209	+2.4%	$1,115 – $1,361
3 bedrooms	$1,579	$1,481	+6.6%	$1,422 – $1,736
4 bedrooms	$1,930	$1,931	−0.1%	$1,737 – $2,123

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 Ionia County that is typically $1,115 to $1,361 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?

$34,502median income of renter households

$884Median gross rent, all units

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

49%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $34,502 can afford about $863 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,238 is $375 (43.5%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $49,520 a year under the 30% rule, or $44,568 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Ionia County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$884 ±$64
Median income of renter households	$34,502 ±$4,197
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	49.1% ±5.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	23.6% ±4.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	4,781

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$768	$884	+15.1%
Median renter household income	$36,357	$34,502	−5.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	36.6%	49.1%	+12.5 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 $1,090 to $1,640 depending on the ZIP code.

All 21 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
48809	$1,110	$1,160	$1,380	$1,790	$1,980
48815	$1,110	$1,160	$1,380	$1,790	$1,980
48834	$880	$1,030	$1,260	$1,570	$1,780
48837	$990	$1,010	$1,270	$1,620	$1,740
48838	$1,110	$1,160	$1,380	$1,790	$1,980
48845	$880	$920	$1,150	$1,470	$1,740
48846	$830	$910	$1,190	$1,520	$1,850
48849	$910	$920	$1,210	$1,570	$1,820
48851	$970	$1,070	$1,400	$1,790	$2,180
48860	$800	$880	$1,150	$1,470	$1,790
48861	$1,020	$1,040	$1,310	$1,670	$1,750
48865	$760	$830	$1,090	$1,370	$1,740
48870	$880	$1,030	$1,260	$1,570	$1,780
48873	$880	$920	$1,150	$1,470	$1,740
48875	$1,000	$1,090	$1,430	$1,820	$2,210
48881	$760	$830	$1,090	$1,350	$1,740
48890	$970	$1,020	$1,300	$1,660	$1,850
48894	$880	$920	$1,150	$1,470	$1,740
49302	$1,180	$1,230	$1,470	$1,910	$2,180
49325	$1,110	$1,160	$1,380	$1,790	$1,980
49331	$1,290	$1,360	$1,640	$2,120	$2,450

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

HUD income limits for Ionia County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $98,700 (FY2025: $83,300, +18.5%). 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%)	$19,250 +10.0%	$22,000 +4.0%	$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%)	$32,100 +9.9%	$36,650 +9.9%	$41,250 +10.0%	$45,800 +10.0%	$49,500 +10.0%	$53,150 +9.9%	$56,800 +10.0%	$60,500 +10.0%
Low income (80%)	$51,350 +10.0%	$58,650 +9.9%	$66,000 +10.0%	$73,300 +10.0%	$79,200 +10.0%	$85,050 +10.0%	$90,900 +10.0%	$96,800 +10.0%

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.