Van Buren 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).

$1,0402-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7951-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$75,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$94,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Van Buren County is $1,040 a month, up 2.4% from $1,016 in FY2026. Van Buren County belongs to the Van Buren 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 Van Buren County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$724	$701	+3.3%	$652 – $796
1 bedroom	$795	$774	+2.7%	$716 – $874
2 bedrooms	$1,040	$1,016	+2.4%	$936 – $1,144
3 bedrooms	$1,370	$1,338	+2.4%	$1,233 – $1,507
4 bedrooms	$1,425	$1,396	+2.1%	$1,283 – $1,567

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 Van Buren County that is typically $936 to $1,144 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?

$34,523median income of renter households

$870Median gross rent, all units

30%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

48%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $34,523 can afford about $863 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,040 is $177 (20.5%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $41,600 a year under the 30% rule, or $37,440 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Van Buren County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$870 ±$37
Median income of renter households	$34,523 ±$2,995
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	48.2% ±5.1
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	26.0% ±4.6
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	5,019

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$705	$870	+23.4%
Median renter household income	$29,761	$34,523	+16.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	48.7%	48.2%	−0.5 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.

HUD income limits for Van Buren County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $94,400 (FY2025: $87,300, +8.1%). 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%)	$19,850 +8.8%	$22,650 +7.1%	$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%)	$33,050 +8.5%	$37,800 +8.8%	$42,500 +8.6%	$47,200 +8.6%	$51,000 +8.6%	$54,800 +8.6%	$58,550 +8.6%	$62,350 +8.6%
Low income (80%)	$52,850 +8.6%	$60,400 +8.6%	$67,950 +8.6%	$75,500 +8.6%	$81,550 +8.6%	$87,600 +8.6%	$93,650 +8.6%	$99,700 +8.7%

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.