Douglas 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).

$1,0272-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7851-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$84,70080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$105,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Douglas County is $1,027 a month, up 3.6% from $991 in FY2026. Douglas County belongs to the Douglas 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 Douglas County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$770	$737	+4.5%	$693 – $847
1 bedroom	$785	$772	+1.7%	$707 – $863
2 bedrooms	$1,027	$991	+3.6%	$925 – $1,129
3 bedrooms	$1,422	$1,378	+3.2%	$1,280 – $1,564
4 bedrooms	$1,500	$1,441	+4.1%	$1,350 – $1,650

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 Douglas County that is typically $925 to $1,129 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?

$38,375median income of renter households

$927Median gross rent, all units

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

43%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $38,375 can afford about $959 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,027 is $68 (7.0%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $41,080 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,972 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Douglas County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$927 ±$60
Median income of renter households	$38,375 ±$4,547
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	43.0% ±6.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	17.3% ±3.6
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	3,857

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$733	$927	+26.5%
Median renter household income	$36,319	$38,375	+5.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	47.6%	43.0%	−4.6 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 Douglas County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $105,900 (FY2025: $105,200, +0.7%). 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%)	$22,250 +0.7%	$25,400 +0.6%	$28,600 +0.7%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$37,100 +0.7%	$42,400 +0.7%	$47,700 +0.7%	$52,950 +0.7%	$57,200 +0.6%	$61,450 +0.7%	$65,700 +0.7%	$69,900 +0.6%
Low income (80%)	$59,300 +0.6%	$67,800 +0.7%	$76,250 +0.7%	$84,700 +0.7%	$91,500 +0.7%	$98,300 +0.7%	$105,050 +0.7%	$111,850 +0.7%

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.