Polk 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).

$1,0142-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8211-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$85,70080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$106,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Polk County is $1,014 a month, down 6.9% from $1,089 in FY2026. Polk County belongs to the Grand Forks, ND-MN MSA 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 Polk County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$816	$863	−5.4%	$735 – $897
1 bedroom	$821	$868	−5.4%	$739 – $903
2 bedrooms	$1,014	$1,089	−6.9%	$913 – $1,115
3 bedrooms	$1,404	$1,515	−7.3%	$1,264 – $1,544
4 bedrooms	$1,695	$1,827	−7.2%	$1,526 – $1,864

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 Polk County that is typically $913 to $1,115 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?

$31,949median income of renter households

$855Median gross rent, all units

32%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

55%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $31,949 can afford about $799 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,014 is $215 (27.0%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,560 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,504 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Polk County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$855 ±$58
Median income of renter households	$31,949 ±$4,941
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	55.1% ±7.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	26.9% ±5.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	3,175

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$716	$855	+19.4%
Median renter household income	$26,923	$31,949	+18.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	44.0%	55.1%	+11.1 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 $1,010 to $1,520 depending on the ZIP code.

All 49 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
56517	$800	$810	$1,010	$1,370	$1,650
56523	$820	$820	$1,010	$1,410	$1,700
56535	$810	$820	$1,010	$1,410	$1,690
56540	$810	$820	$1,010	$1,400	$1,670
56542	$810	$820	$1,010	$1,400	$1,690
56556	$820	$820	$1,010	$1,410	$1,700
56568	$820	$820	$1,010	$1,410	$1,700
56592	$840	$860	$1,080	$1,450	$1,730
56621	$780	$840	$1,060	$1,370	$1,650
56644	$780	$810	$1,010	$1,370	$1,650
56646	$950	$960	$1,180	$1,630	$1,970
56651	$870	$920	$1,180	$1,530	$1,860
56684	$850	$900	$1,140	$1,530	$1,740
56701	$800	$880	$1,140	$1,560	$1,680
56710	$780	$790	$1,010	$1,370	$1,700
56715	$780	$790	$1,010	$1,370	$1,650
56716	$820	$820	$1,010	$1,410	$1,700
56721	$820	$820	$1,010	$1,410	$1,700
56722	$780	$810	$1,020	$1,370	$1,670
56723	$850	$850	$1,060	$1,470	$1,770
56736	$810	$820	$1,010	$1,410	$1,690
56742	$780	$810	$1,060	$1,400	$1,650
56744	$920	$930	$1,160	$1,580	$1,940
56750	$780	$790	$1,010	$1,370	$1,650
56762	$780	$790	$1,010	$1,370	$1,700
58201	$890	$900	$1,110	$1,540	$1,860
58202	$1,110	$1,120	$1,380	$1,910	$2,310
58203	$820	$820	$1,010	$1,410	$1,700
58204	$1,220	$1,230	$1,520	$2,100	$2,540
58205	$990	$1,000	$1,230	$1,700	$2,050
58206	$840	$840	$1,040	$1,440	$1,740
58207	$840	$840	$1,040	$1,440	$1,740
58208	$840	$840	$1,040	$1,440	$1,740
58212	$810	$820	$1,010	$1,390	$1,700
58214	$880	$880	$1,090	$1,510	$1,830
58228	$820	$820	$1,010	$1,410	$1,700
58231	$810	$810	$1,020	$1,370	$1,700
58233	$810	$810	$1,020	$1,370	$1,700
58235	$890	$900	$1,110	$1,540	$1,860
58240	$870	$870	$1,090	$1,510	$1,820
58244	$840	$840	$1,040	$1,440	$1,740
58251	$930	$940	$1,160	$1,610	$1,940
58256	$1,000	$1,000	$1,240	$1,720	$2,070
58258	$910	$910	$1,130	$1,560	$1,880
58261	$800	$810	$1,010	$1,370	$1,700
58266	$920	$930	$1,140	$1,590	$1,910
58267	$820	$820	$1,010	$1,410	$1,700
58275	$1,210	$1,220	$1,520	$2,100	$2,540
58278	$820	$820	$1,010	$1,410	$1,700

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

HUD income limits for Polk County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $106,800 (FY2025: $102,800, +3.9%). 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%)	$22,550 +2.7%	$25,750 +2.8%	$28,950 +2.7%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$37,500 +2.6%	$42,850 +2.5%	$48,200 +2.6%	$53,550 +2.6%	$57,850 +2.6%	$62,150 +2.6%	$66,450 +2.6%	$70,700 +2.5%
Low income (80%)	$60,000 +2.7%	$68,600 +2.7%	$77,150 +2.7%	$85,700 +2.6%	$92,600 +2.7%	$99,450 +2.6%	$106,300 +2.7%	$113,150 +2.6%

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.