Cooper 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).

$9622-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7351-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$74,65080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$93,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Cooper County is $962 a month, up 0.4% from $958 in FY2026. Cooper County belongs to the Cooper County, MO 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 Cooper County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$695	$668	+4.0%	$626 – $764
1 bedroom	$735	$730	+0.7%	$662 – $808
2 bedrooms	$962	$958	+0.4%	$866 – $1,058
3 bedrooms	$1,278	$1,182	+8.1%	$1,151 – $1,405
4 bedrooms	$1,387	$1,497	−7.3%	$1,249 – $1,525

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 Cooper County that is typically $866 to $1,058 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?

$40,369median income of renter households

$782Median gross rent, all units

23%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

37%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $40,369 can afford about $1,009 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $962 is $47 (4.7%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $38,480 a year under the 30% rule, or $34,632 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Cooper County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$782 ±$47
Median income of renter households	$40,369 ±$3,704
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	36.9% ±7.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.4% ±7.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,364

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$664	$782	+17.8%
Median renter household income	$35,016	$40,369	+15.3%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	34.5%	36.9%	+2.4 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 $960 to $1,430 depending on the ZIP code.

All 15 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
65018	$740	$740	$970	$1,340	$1,520
65025	$720	$740	$960	$1,320	$1,470
65046	$730	$740	$960	$1,330	$1,510
65068	$700	$740	$960	$1,280	$1,390
65081	$720	$750	$960	$1,310	$1,450
65233	$700	$740	$970	$1,290	$1,400
65237	$690	$740	$960	$1,280	$1,390
65276	$690	$740	$960	$1,280	$1,390
65287	$720	$780	$990	$1,340	$1,480
65301	$820	$830	$1,080	$1,420	$1,540
65322	$870	$920	$1,210	$1,610	$1,740
65347	$780	$820	$1,060	$1,380	$1,470
65348	$750	$800	$1,030	$1,360	$1,460
65350	$800	$820	$1,070	$1,400	$1,520
65354	$1,050	$1,180	$1,430	$1,880	$1,910

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

HUD income limits for Cooper County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $93,300 (FY2025: $92,300, +1.1%). 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%)	$19,600 +5.7%	$22,400 +5.7%	$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%)	$32,700 +5.7%	$37,350 +5.7%	$42,000 +5.5%	$46,650 +5.5%	$50,400 +5.5%	$54,150 +5.6%	$57,850 +5.5%	$61,600 +5.6%
Low income (80%)	$52,300 +5.7%	$59,750 +5.6%	$67,200 +5.6%	$74,650 +5.6%	$80,650 +5.6%	$86,600 +5.5%	$92,600 +5.6%	$98,550 +5.6%

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.