Jackson 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).

$1,2012-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9841-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$74,15080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$101,200Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Jackson County is $1,201 a month, up 3.1% from $1,165 in FY2026. Jackson County belongs to the Jackson, MI 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 Jackson County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$896	$838	+6.9%	$807 – $985
1 bedroom	$984	$946	+4.0%	$886 – $1,082
2 bedrooms	$1,201	$1,165	+3.1%	$1,081 – $1,321
3 bedrooms	$1,576	$1,534	+2.7%	$1,419 – $1,733
4 bedrooms	$1,578	$1,626	−3.0%	$1,421 – $1,735

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 Jackson County that is typically $1,081 to $1,321 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?

$38,313median income of renter households

$985Median gross rent, all units

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

45%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $38,313 can afford about $958 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,201 is $243 (25.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $48,040 a year under the 30% rule, or $43,236 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Jackson County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$985 ±$27
Median income of renter households	$38,313 ±$2,913
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	45.3% ±3.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	24.8% ±2.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	14,618

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$782	$985	+26.0%
Median renter household income	$29,884	$38,313	+28.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	48.0%	45.3%	−2.7 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 $1,050 to $2,030 depending on the ZIP code.

All 31 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
48118	$1,640	$1,690	$2,030	$2,440	$2,670
48158	$1,230	$1,250	$1,500	$1,790	$1,980
48827	$980	$1,000	$1,250	$1,590	$1,640
49201	$890	$980	$1,200	$1,580	$1,580
49202	$840	$920	$1,120	$1,470	$1,470
49203	$970	$1,060	$1,300	$1,710	$1,710
49204	$890	$980	$1,200	$1,580	$1,580
49224	$790	$930	$1,110	$1,390	$1,490
49230	$1,230	$1,250	$1,500	$1,790	$1,980
49233	$830	$910	$1,180	$1,480	$1,560
49234	$1,080	$1,190	$1,450	$1,900	$1,910
49237	$760	$880	$1,060	$1,390	$1,470
49240	$1,230	$1,250	$1,500	$1,820	$1,980
49241	$910	$1,000	$1,220	$1,600	$1,600
49245	$810	$970	$1,160	$1,390	$1,550
49246	$830	$910	$1,110	$1,450	$1,510
49249	$780	$860	$1,110	$1,390	$1,470
49250	$760	$860	$1,050	$1,390	$1,470
49251	$1,020	$1,040	$1,310	$1,670	$1,720
49252	$760	$880	$1,060	$1,390	$1,470
49254	$1,000	$1,100	$1,340	$1,760	$1,760
49259	$820	$900	$1,100	$1,440	$1,470
49261	$890	$980	$1,200	$1,580	$1,580
49263	$890	$980	$1,200	$1,580	$1,580
49264	$880	$920	$1,150	$1,470	$1,520
49269	$880	$970	$1,180	$1,550	$1,550
49272	$1,030	$1,110	$1,370	$1,790	$1,800
49277	$1,340	$1,470	$1,800	$2,360	$2,370
49283	$1,090	$1,200	$1,460	$1,920	$1,920
49284	$880	$960	$1,170	$1,490	$1,540
49285	$1,230	$1,250	$1,500	$1,830	$2,060

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

HUD income limits for Jackson County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $101,200 (FY2025: $84,300, +20.0%). 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%)	$19,500 +9.9%	$22,250 +5.2%	$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%)	$32,450 +9.8%	$37,100 +9.9%	$41,700 +9.9%	$46,350 +10.0%	$50,100 +10.0%	$53,750 +9.9%	$57,500 +9.9%	$61,200 +10.0%
Low income (80%)	$51,950 +9.9%	$59,350 +9.9%	$66,750 +9.9%	$74,150 +9.9%	$80,100 +10.0%	$86,050 +10.0%	$91,950 +9.9%	$97,900 +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.