Dodge 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).

$1,4222-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,2261-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$106,80080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$135,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Dodge County is $1,422 a month, up 1.1% from $1,407 in FY2026. Dodge County belongs to the Rochester, MN HUD Metro FMR Area 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 Dodge County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,183	$1,112	+6.4%	$1,065 – $1,301
1 bedroom	$1,226	$1,189	+3.1%	$1,104 – $1,348
2 bedrooms	$1,422	$1,407	+1.1%	$1,280 – $1,564
3 bedrooms	$1,969	$1,957	+0.6%	$1,773 – $2,165
4 bedrooms	$2,377	$2,360	+0.7%	$2,140 – $2,614

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 Dodge County that is typically $1,280 to $1,564 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?

$45,421median income of renter households

$1,020Median gross rent, all units

27%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

42%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $45,421 can afford about $1,136 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,422 is $286 (25.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $56,880 a year under the 30% rule, or $51,192 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Dodge County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,020 ±$122
Median income of renter households	$45,421 ±$4,016
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	41.6% ±11.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	26.9% ±10.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	982

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$653	$1,020	+56.2%
Median renter household income	$39,225	$45,421	+15.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	33.9%	41.6%	+7.7 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 $1,270 to $1,740 depending on the ZIP code.

All 28 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
55901	$1,220	$1,270	$1,470	$2,040	$2,460
55902	$1,450	$1,500	$1,740	$2,410	$2,910
55903	$1,200	$1,240	$1,440	$1,990	$2,410
55904	$1,170	$1,220	$1,410	$1,950	$2,360
55905	$1,200	$1,240	$1,440	$1,990	$2,410
55906	$1,060	$1,090	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55917	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55920	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55923	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55924	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55927	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55929	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55932	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55934	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55940	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55944	$1,110	$1,150	$1,340	$1,860	$2,240
55946	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55955	$1,120	$1,160	$1,350	$1,870	$2,260
55956	$1,140	$1,220	$1,350	$1,780	$2,130
55960	$1,260	$1,300	$1,510	$2,090	$2,520
55963	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55964	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55972	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55973	$1,010	$1,080	$1,430	$1,830	$2,130
55976	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55982	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55985	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130
55991	$1,010	$1,080	$1,270	$1,770	$2,130

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

HUD income limits for Dodge County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $135,800 (FY2025: $125,600, +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%)	$28,550 +8.1%	$32,600 +7.9%	$36,700 +8.1%	$40,750 +8.1%	$44,050 +8.1%	$47,300 +8.1%	$50,550 +3.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$47,550 +8.1%	$54,350 +8.2%	$61,150 +8.1%	$67,900 +8.1%	$73,350 +8.1%	$78,800 +8.2%	$84,200 +8.1%	$89,650 +8.1%
Low income (80%)	$74,800 +6.3%	$85,450 +6.3%	$96,150 +6.3%	$106,800 +6.3%	$115,350 +6.3%	$123,900 +6.3%	$132,450 +6.3%	$141,000 +6.3%

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.