Cook 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).

$1,0222-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9391-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$78,40080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$95,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Cook County is $1,022 a month, up 5.0% from $973 in FY2026. Cook County belongs to the Cook County, MN 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 Cook County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$712	$671	+6.1%	$641 – $783
1 bedroom	$939	$888	+5.7%	$846 – $1,032
2 bedrooms	$1,022	$973	+5.0%	$920 – $1,124
3 bedrooms	$1,415	$1,288	+9.9%	$1,274 – $1,556
4 bedrooms	$1,492	$1,415	+5.4%	$1,343 – $1,641

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 Cook County that is typically $920 to $1,124 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?

$56,940median income of renter households

$886Median gross rent, all units

19%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

41%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $56,940 can afford about $1,424 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,022 is $402 (28.2%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,880 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,792 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Cook County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$886 ±$102
Median income of renter households	$56,940 ±$8,049
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	41.0% ±9.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	13.7% ±4.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	524

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$651	$886	+36.1%
Median renter household income	$32,315	$56,940	+76.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	25.1%	41.0%	+15.9 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 Cook County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $95,700 (FY2025: $94,400, +1.4%). 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%)	$20,600 +3.0%	$23,550 +3.1%	$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%)	$34,300 +2.8%	$39,200 +2.9%	$44,100 +2.9%	$49,000 +2.9%	$52,950 +2.9%	$56,850 +2.9%	$60,800 +3.0%	$64,700 +2.9%
Low income (80%)	$54,900 +2.9%	$62,750 +3.0%	$70,600 +3.0%	$78,400 +3.0%	$84,700 +3.0%	$90,950 +2.9%	$97,250 +3.0%	$103,500 +2.9%

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.