Pennington 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).

$1,1422-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8731-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$89,05080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$111,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Pennington County is $1,142 a month, up 1.8% from $1,122 in FY2026. Pennington County belongs to the Pennington 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 Pennington County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$795	$774	+2.7%	$716 – $874
1 bedroom	$873	$855	+2.1%	$786 – $960
2 bedrooms	$1,142	$1,122	+1.8%	$1,028 – $1,256
3 bedrooms	$1,564	$1,496	+4.5%	$1,408 – $1,720
4 bedrooms	$1,668	$1,631	+2.3%	$1,502 – $1,834

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 Pennington County that is typically $1,028 to $1,256 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?

$39,792median income of renter households

$862Median gross rent, all units

26%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

36%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $39,792 can afford about $995 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,142 is $147 (14.8%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $45,680 a year under the 30% rule, or $41,112 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Pennington County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$862 ±$67
Median income of renter households	$39,792 ±$9,087
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	35.5% ±8.1
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	14.1% ±5.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,664

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$693	$862	+24.4%
Median renter household income	$33,304	$39,792	+19.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	38.7%	35.5%	−3.2 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 Pennington County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $111,300 (FY2025: $107,500, +3.5%). 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%)	$23,400 +4.9%	$26,750 +4.9%	$30,100 +4.9%	$33,400 +3.9%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$39,000 +4.8%	$44,550 +4.9%	$50,100 +4.8%	$55,650 +4.8%	$60,150 +4.9%	$64,600 +4.9%	$69,050 +4.9%	$73,500 +4.9%
Low income (80%)	$62,350 +4.8%	$71,250 +4.8%	$80,150 +4.8%	$89,050 +4.8%	$96,200 +4.9%	$103,300 +4.8%	$110,450 +4.8%	$117,550 +4.8%

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.