Carlton County, MN: 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).

$1,2072-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9611-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$80,90080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$101,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Carlton County is $1,207 a month, down 2.0% from $1,232 in FY2026. Carlton County belongs to the Duluth, MN-WI 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 Carlton County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$841	$849	−0.9%	$757 – $925
1 bedroom	$961	$978	−1.7%	$865 – $1,057
2 bedrooms	$1,207	$1,232	−2.0%	$1,087 – $1,327
3 bedrooms	$1,671	$1,689	−1.1%	$1,504 – $1,838
4 bedrooms	$2,017	$2,067	−2.4%	$1,816 – $2,218

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 Carlton County that is typically $1,087 to $1,327 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?

$41,519median income of renter households

$1,009Median gross rent, all units

29%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

47%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $41,519 can afford about $1,038 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,207 is $169 (16.3%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $48,280 a year under the 30% rule, or $43,452 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Carlton County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,009 ±$61
Median income of renter households	$41,519 ±$6,232
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	46.6% ±7.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.5% ±4.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	2,454

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$776	$1,009	+30.0%
Median renter household income	$32,083	$41,519	+29.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	41.1%	46.6%	+5.5 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 $1,110 to $1,810 depending on the ZIP code.

All 78 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
54820	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
54830	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
54836	$780	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
54838	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
54842	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
54849	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
54854	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
54859	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
54864	$830	$960	$1,210	$1,660	$2,030
54873	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
54874	$790	$900	$1,130	$1,560	$1,890
54880	$790	$900	$1,130	$1,560	$1,890
54890	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55602	$860	$980	$1,230	$1,700	$2,050
55616	$990	$1,090	$1,420	$1,710	$2,090
55702	$1,050	$1,200	$1,510	$2,090	$2,520
55703	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55705	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55706	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55707	$790	$910	$1,140	$1,580	$1,910
55708	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55710	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55711	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55713	$840	$960	$1,200	$1,660	$2,010
55717	$1,180	$1,350	$1,700	$2,350	$2,840
55718	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55719	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55720	$850	$970	$1,220	$1,690	$2,040
55723	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55724	$860	$980	$1,230	$1,700	$2,060
55725	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55726	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55731	$800	$890	$1,150	$1,530	$1,870
55732	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55733	$1,110	$1,270	$1,590	$2,200	$2,660
55734	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55736	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55738	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55741	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55746	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55749	$840	$910	$1,160	$1,530	$1,870
55750	$860	$980	$1,230	$1,700	$2,060
55751	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55756	$870	$910	$1,170	$1,530	$1,870
55757	$830	$900	$1,150	$1,530	$1,870
55758	$810	$930	$1,160	$1,610	$1,940
55763	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55765	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55767	$780	$890	$1,120	$1,540	$1,870
55768	$800	$920	$1,150	$1,590	$1,920
55769	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55771	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55772	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55779	$1,260	$1,440	$1,810	$2,510	$3,030
55780	$810	$930	$1,160	$1,610	$1,940
55781	$1,110	$1,270	$1,600	$2,190	$2,600
55782	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55783	$970	$980	$1,280	$1,530	$1,870
55787	$790	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55790	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55792	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55796	$800	$890	$1,150	$1,530	$1,870
55797	$970	$1,110	$1,390	$1,920	$2,320
55798	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
55802	$910	$1,040	$1,300	$1,800	$2,170
55803	$1,200	$1,370	$1,720	$2,380	$2,870
55804	$1,120	$1,280	$1,610	$2,230	$2,690
55805	$850	$970	$1,220	$1,690	$2,040
55806	$780	$890	$1,120	$1,550	$1,870
55807	$840	$960	$1,210	$1,680	$2,020
55808	$830	$950	$1,190	$1,650	$1,990
55810	$920	$1,050	$1,320	$1,830	$2,210
55811	$1,070	$1,230	$1,540	$2,130	$2,570
55812	$1,050	$1,200	$1,510	$2,090	$2,520
55814	$1,070	$1,230	$1,540	$2,130	$2,570
55816	$860	$980	$1,230	$1,700	$2,060
56649	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870
56669	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,530	$1,870

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

HUD income limits for Carlton County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $101,100 (FY2025: $100,600, +0.5%). 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%)	$21,250 +0.5%	$24,300 +0.4%	$27,350 +0.6%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$35,400 +0.4%	$40,450 +0.5%	$45,500 +0.4%	$50,550 +0.5%	$54,600 +0.5%	$58,650 +0.5%	$62,700 +0.5%	$66,750 +0.5%
Low income (80%)	$56,650 +0.5%	$64,750 +0.5%	$72,850 +0.6%	$80,900 +0.5%	$87,400 +0.5%	$93,850 +0.5%	$100,350 +0.5%	$106,800 +0.5%

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.