Muskegon 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).

$1,2852-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9821-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$66,90080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$77,500Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Muskegon County is $1,285 a month, up 4.0% from $1,236 in FY2026. Muskegon County belongs to the Muskegon-Norton Shores, 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 Muskegon County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$937	$866	+8.2%	$844 – $1,030
1 bedroom	$982	$942	+4.2%	$884 – $1,080
2 bedrooms	$1,285	$1,236	+4.0%	$1,157 – $1,413
3 bedrooms	$1,534	$1,490	+3.0%	$1,381 – $1,687
4 bedrooms	$1,689	$1,636	+3.2%	$1,521 – $1,857

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 Muskegon County that is typically $1,157 to $1,413 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?

$34,726median income of renter households

$1,028Median gross rent, all units

36%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

53%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $34,726 can afford about $868 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,285 is $417 (48.0%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $51,400 a year under the 30% rule, or $46,260 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Muskegon County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,028 ±$36
Median income of renter households	$34,726 ±$2,680
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	52.5% ±3.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	29.9% ±3.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	13,536

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$760	$1,028	+35.3%
Median renter household income	$26,771	$34,726	+29.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	51.3%	52.5%	+1.2 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.

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 $1,120 to $1,610 depending on the ZIP code.

All 21 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
49303	$1,110	$1,160	$1,380	$1,790	$1,980
49318	$1,110	$1,200	$1,460	$1,790	$2,040
49327	$1,110	$1,160	$1,380	$1,790	$1,980
49330	$1,280	$1,350	$1,610	$2,090	$2,390
49403	$1,110	$1,200	$1,380	$1,790	$2,040
49404	$950	$1,200	$1,370	$1,740	$2,040
49412	$780	$850	$1,120	$1,410	$1,480
49415	$1,060	$1,200	$1,450	$1,740	$2,040
49425	$780	$850	$1,120	$1,350	$1,480
49437	$780	$850	$1,120	$1,350	$1,480
49440	$780	$850	$1,120	$1,350	$1,480
49441	$1,010	$1,060	$1,390	$1,660	$1,830
49442	$870	$920	$1,200	$1,430	$1,580
49443	$930	$980	$1,280	$1,530	$1,690
49444	$950	$990	$1,300	$1,550	$1,710
49445	$1,090	$1,140	$1,490	$1,780	$1,960
49448	$950	$1,200	$1,370	$1,740	$2,040
49451	$950	$1,200	$1,370	$1,740	$2,040
49456	$1,110	$1,380	$1,590	$1,990	$2,350
49457	$1,030	$1,080	$1,410	$1,680	$1,850
49461	$870	$920	$1,200	$1,430	$1,580

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

HUD income limits for Muskegon County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $77,500 (FY2025: $82,000, −5.5%). 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%)	$17,600 +2.0%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,200 +1.9%
Very low income (50%)	$29,300 +2.1%	$33,450 +2.0%	$37,650 +2.0%	$41,800 +2.0%	$45,150 +1.9%	$48,500 +1.9%	$51,850 +2.0%	$55,200 +1.9%
Low income (80%)	$46,850 +2.0%	$53,550 +2.0%	$60,250 +2.0%	$66,900 +2.0%	$72,300 +2.0%	$77,650 +2.0%	$83,000 +2.0%	$88,350 +2.0%

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.