Kandiyohi 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).

$1,0262-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8361-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$81,10080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$101,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Kandiyohi County is $1,026 a month, up 5.4% from $973 in FY2026. Kandiyohi County belongs to the Kandiyohi 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 Kandiyohi County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$831	$782	+6.3%	$748 – $914
1 bedroom	$836	$787	+6.2%	$753 – $919
2 bedrooms	$1,026	$973	+5.4%	$924 – $1,128
3 bedrooms	$1,421	$1,353	+5.0%	$1,279 – $1,563
4 bedrooms	$1,715	$1,632	+5.1%	$1,544 – $1,886

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 Kandiyohi County that is typically $924 to $1,128 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?

$43,577median income of renter households

$909Median gross rent, all units

25%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 $43,577 can afford about $1,089 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,026 is $63 (5.8%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $41,040 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,936 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Kandiyohi County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$909 ±$47
Median income of renter households	$43,577 ±$3,059
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	41.5% ±6.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	17.7% ±3.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	4,488

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$776	$909	+17.1%
Median renter household income	$33,151	$43,577	+31.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	42.2%	41.5%	−0.7 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.

HUD income limits for Kandiyohi County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $101,400 (FY2025: $100,800, +0.6%). 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%)	$21,300 +0.5%	$24,350 +0.6%	$27,400 +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%)	$35,500 +0.6%	$40,600 +0.6%	$45,650 +0.6%	$50,700 +0.6%	$54,800 +0.6%	$58,850 +0.6%	$62,900 +0.6%	$66,950 +0.6%
Low income (80%)	$56,800 +0.5%	$64,900 +0.5%	$73,000 +0.6%	$81,100 +0.6%	$87,600 +0.5%	$94,100 +0.5%	$100,600 +0.5%	$107,100 +0.6%

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.