Rock 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

$7751-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$84,90080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$106,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Rock County is $1,014 a month, up 4.2% from $973 in FY2026. Rock County belongs to the Rock County, 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 Rock County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$770	$727	+5.9%	$693 – $847
1 bedroom	$775	$742	+4.4%	$698 – $852
2 bedrooms	$1,014	$973	+4.2%	$913 – $1,115
3 bedrooms	$1,404	$1,353	+3.8%	$1,264 – $1,544
4 bedrooms	$1,501	$1,357	+10.6%	$1,351 – $1,651

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 Rock 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?

$31,250median income of renter households

$698Median gross rent, all units

27%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 $31,250 can afford about $781 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,014 is $233 (29.8%) 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.

Rock County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$698 ±$61
Median income of renter households	$31,250 ±$10,039
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	43.4% ±8.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	23.4% ±7.6
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	782

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$678	$698	+2.9%
Median renter household income	$33,500	$31,250	−6.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	38.7%	43.4%	+4.7 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 $1,010 to $1,300 depending on the ZIP code.

All 13 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
56116	$840	$840	$1,100	$1,520	$1,630
56128	$770	$840	$1,100	$1,320	$1,610
56129	$720	$780	$1,010	$1,370	$1,450
56134	$770	$780	$1,010	$1,410	$1,510
56138	$900	$900	$1,180	$1,630	$1,750
56144	$750	$810	$1,020	$1,320	$1,570
56146	$760	$780	$1,010	$1,410	$1,500
56147	$760	$800	$1,040	$1,370	$1,520
56156	$770	$780	$1,010	$1,410	$1,510
56158	$760	$780	$1,010	$1,410	$1,500
56173	$980	$990	$1,290	$1,790	$1,910
57030	$780	$890	$1,050	$1,430	$1,750
57068	$1,000	$1,100	$1,300	$1,790	$2,170

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

HUD income limits for Rock County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $106,100 (FY2025: $102,600, +3.4%). 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%)	$22,300 +3.2%	$25,500 +3.4%	$28,700 +3.4%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$37,150 +3.3%	$42,450 +3.4%	$47,750 +3.4%	$53,050 +3.4%	$57,300 +3.3%	$61,550 +3.4%	$65,800 +3.4%	$70,050 +3.4%
Low income (80%)	$59,450 +3.4%	$67,950 +3.4%	$76,450 +3.5%	$84,900 +3.4%	$91,700 +3.4%	$98,500 +3.4%	$105,300 +3.4%	$112,100 +3.4%

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.