Benton County, MO: 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).

$1,0032-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7671-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$62,00080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$68,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Benton County is $1,003 a month, up 8.0% from $929 in FY2026. Benton County belongs to the Benton County, MO 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 Benton County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$739	$690	+7.1%	$666 – $812
1 bedroom	$767	$708	+8.3%	$691 – $843
2 bedrooms	$1,003	$929	+8.0%	$903 – $1,103
3 bedrooms	$1,318	$1,194	+10.4%	$1,187 – $1,449
4 bedrooms	$1,436	$1,453	−1.2%	$1,293 – $1,579

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 Benton County that is typically $903 to $1,103 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?

$25,625median income of renter households (low reliability)

$773Median gross rent, all units

36%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

50%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $25,625 can afford about $641 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,003 is $362 (56.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,120 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,108 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Benton County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$773 ±$55
Median income of renter households	$25,625 ±$15,019
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	49.9% ±9.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	34.7% ±9.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,128

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$638	$773	+21.2%
Median renter household income	$27,813	$25,625	−7.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	46.2%	49.9%	+3.7 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.

HUD income limits for Benton County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $68,800 (FY2025: $72,400, −5.0%). 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%)	$16,300 +0.3%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$48,050 +0.5%	$51,150 +0.5%
Very low income (50%)	$27,150 +0.6%	$31,000 +0.5%	$34,900 +0.6%	$38,750 +0.5%	$41,850 +0.5%	$44,950 +0.6%	$48,050 +0.5%	$51,150 +0.5%
Low income (80%)	$43,400 +0.5%	$49,600 +0.4%	$55,800 +0.5%	$62,000 +0.5%	$67,000 +0.5%	$71,950 +0.5%	$76,900 +0.5%	$81,850 +0.5%

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.