Stevens 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

$80,30080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$100,400Median family income (FY2026)

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

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$715	$683	+4.7%	$644 – $786
1 bedroom	$785	$755	+4.0%	$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	$1,717	$1,662	+3.3%	$1,546 – $1,888

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 Stevens 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?

$36,571median income of renter households

$951Median gross rent, all units

31%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

45%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $36,571 can afford about $914 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,027 is $113 (12.3%) 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.

Stevens County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$951 ±$138
Median income of renter households	$36,571 ±$6,723
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	44.8% ±9.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	23.9% ±7.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,316

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$753	$951	+26.3%
Median renter household income	$25,179	$36,571	+45.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	51.6%	44.8%	−6.8 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 Stevens County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $100,400 (FY2025: $103,000, −2.5%). 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%)	$21,100 −2.5%	$24,100 −2.6%	$27,320 −1.9%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$35,150 −2.5%	$40,200 −2.4%	$45,200 −2.5%	$50,200 −2.5%	$54,250 −2.5%	$58,250 −2.5%	$62,250 −2.6%	$66,300 −2.5%
Low income (80%)	$56,250 −2.5%	$64,250 −2.6%	$72,300 −2.6%	$80,300 −2.5%	$86,750 −2.5%	$93,150 −2.6%	$99,600 −2.5%	$106,000 −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.