Lafayette County, MS: 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).

$1,2552-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0171-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$78,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$98,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Lafayette County is $1,255 a month, up 1.0% from $1,243 in FY2026. Lafayette County belongs to the Lafayette County, MS 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 Lafayette County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,011	$1,047	−3.4%	$910 – $1,112
1 bedroom	$1,017	$1,053	−3.4%	$916 – $1,118
2 bedrooms	$1,255	$1,243	+1.0%	$1,130 – $1,380
3 bedrooms	$1,502	$1,539	−2.4%	$1,352 – $1,652
4 bedrooms	$1,649	$1,646	+0.2%	$1,485 – $1,813

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 Lafayette County that is typically $1,130 to $1,380 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?

$38,463median income of renter households

$1,085Median gross rent, all units

34%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

54%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $38,463 can afford about $962 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,255 is $293 (30.5%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $50,200 a year under the 30% rule, or $45,180 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Lafayette County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,085 ±$61
Median income of renter households	$38,463 ±$7,157
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	54.4% ±5.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	32.1% ±4.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	5,998

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$954	$1,085	+13.7%
Median renter household income	$27,219	$38,463	+41.3%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	61.4%	54.4%	−7.0 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 Lafayette County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $98,100 (FY2025: $92,000, +6.6%). 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%)	$20,650 +7.6%	$23,600 +7.5%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$34,350 +7.3%	$39,250 +7.4%	$44,150 +7.3%	$49,050 +7.3%	$53,000 +7.4%	$56,900 +7.4%	$60,850 +7.4%	$64,750 +7.3%
Low income (80%)	$54,950 +7.3%	$62,800 +7.4%	$70,650 +7.4%	$78,500 +7.4%	$84,800 +7.4%	$91,100 +7.4%	$97,350 +7.4%	$103,650 +7.4%

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.