Lawrence 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).

$9762-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7461-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$66,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$83,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Lawrence County is $976 a month, up 9.9% from $888 in FY2026. Lawrence County belongs to the Lawrence 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 Lawrence County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$719	$660	+8.9%	$648 – $790
1 bedroom	$746	$677	+10.2%	$672 – $820
2 bedrooms	$976	$888	+9.9%	$879 – $1,073
3 bedrooms	$1,292	$1,169	+10.5%	$1,163 – $1,421
4 bedrooms	$1,505	$1,337	+12.6%	$1,355 – $1,655

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 Lawrence County that is typically $879 to $1,073 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?

$35,341median income of renter households

$800Median gross rent, all units

27%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

44%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $35,341 can afford about $884 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $976 is $92 (10.5%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $39,040 a year under the 30% rule, or $35,136 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Lawrence County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$800 ±$57
Median income of renter households	$35,341 ±$5,928
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	44.0% ±7.9
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	16.5% ±5.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	3,208

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$681	$800	+17.5%
Median renter household income	$31,503	$35,341	+12.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	42.5%	44.0%	+1.5 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 Lawrence County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $83,100 (FY2025: $77,100, +7.8%). 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%)	$17,500 +7.7%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +4.6%	$54,850 +7.8%
Very low income (50%)	$29,100 +7.8%	$33,250 +7.8%	$37,400 +7.8%	$41,550 +7.8%	$44,900 +7.8%	$48,200 +7.7%	$51,550 +7.7%	$54,850 +7.8%
Low income (80%)	$46,550 +7.8%	$53,200 +7.7%	$59,850 +7.7%	$66,500 +7.8%	$71,850 +7.8%	$77,150 +7.8%	$82,500 +7.8%	$87,800 +7.8%

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.