Kalamazoo 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).

$1,1582-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0131-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$84,25080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$108,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Kalamazoo County is $1,158 a month, down 0.3% from $1,162 in FY2026. Kalamazoo County belongs to the Kalamazoo-Portage, 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 Kalamazoo County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$885	$838	+5.6%	$797 – $973
1 bedroom	$1,013	$998	+1.5%	$912 – $1,114
2 bedrooms	$1,158	$1,162	−0.3%	$1,043 – $1,273
3 bedrooms	$1,545	$1,531	+0.9%	$1,391 – $1,699
4 bedrooms	$1,637	$1,571	+4.2%	$1,474 – $1,800

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 Kalamazoo County that is typically $1,043 to $1,273 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?

$42,263median income of renter households

$1,093Median gross rent, all units

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

52%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $42,263 can afford about $1,057 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,158 is $101 (9.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $46,320 a year under the 30% rule, or $41,688 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Kalamazoo County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,093 ±$21
Median income of renter households	$42,263 ±$2,034
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	52.1% ±2.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	26.0% ±2.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	35,774

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$812	$1,093	+34.6%
Median renter household income	$34,009	$42,263	+24.3%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	46.4%	52.1%	+5.7 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 $1,430 depending on the ZIP code.

All 32 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
49001	$890	$1,020	$1,170	$1,560	$1,650
49002	$770	$900	$1,050	$1,380	$1,440
49003	$890	$1,010	$1,160	$1,550	$1,640
49004	$910	$1,040	$1,190	$1,590	$1,680
49005	$890	$1,010	$1,160	$1,550	$1,640
49006	$800	$920	$1,050	$1,400	$1,480
49007	$890	$1,020	$1,170	$1,560	$1,650
49008	$860	$980	$1,120	$1,490	$1,580
49009	$960	$1,090	$1,250	$1,670	$1,770
49011	$860	$1,020	$1,210	$1,460	$1,630
49012	$910	$920	$1,210	$1,570	$1,820
49015	$880	$1,050	$1,260	$1,500	$1,690
49019	$890	$1,010	$1,160	$1,550	$1,640
49024	$990	$1,140	$1,300	$1,730	$1,840
49034	$770	$900	$1,060	$1,380	$1,440
49041	$890	$1,010	$1,160	$1,550	$1,640
49048	$870	$1,000	$1,140	$1,520	$1,610
49052	$760	$900	$1,060	$1,380	$1,430
49053	$770	$900	$1,050	$1,380	$1,440
49060	$960	$1,030	$1,270	$1,620	$1,860
49065	$760	$900	$1,060	$1,400	$1,500
49071	$950	$1,060	$1,340	$1,770	$1,850
49072	$810	$900	$1,130	$1,490	$1,580
49074	$880	$1,010	$1,160	$1,540	$1,630
49077	$890	$1,010	$1,160	$1,550	$1,640
49078	$1,090	$1,100	$1,430	$1,760	$2,060
49080	$930	$940	$1,220	$1,570	$1,820
49081	$890	$1,010	$1,160	$1,550	$1,640
49083	$910	$920	$1,210	$1,570	$1,820
49087	$810	$930	$1,060	$1,410	$1,500
49088	$800	$920	$1,060	$1,400	$1,480
49097	$790	$900	$1,050	$1,380	$1,460

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

HUD income limits for Kalamazoo County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $108,100 (FY2025: $95,800, +12.8%). 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%)	$22,150 +9.9%	$25,300 +10.0%	$28,450 +6.8%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$36,900 +10.0%	$42,150 +9.9%	$47,400 +9.8%	$52,650 +9.9%	$56,900 +10.0%	$61,100 +9.9%	$65,300 +9.9%	$69,500 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$59,000 +9.9%	$67,400 +9.9%	$75,850 +9.9%	$84,250 +9.9%	$91,000 +9.9%	$97,750 +9.9%	$104,500 +9.9%	$111,250 +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.