Marion 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).

$1,0602-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8101-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$64,40080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$80,500Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Marion County is $1,060 a month, up 11.3% from $952 in FY2026. Marion County belongs to the Marion 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 Marion County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$781	$707	+10.5%	$703 – $859
1 bedroom	$810	$729	+11.1%	$729 – $891
2 bedrooms	$1,060	$952	+11.3%	$954 – $1,166
3 bedrooms	$1,376	$1,256	+9.6%	$1,239 – $1,513
4 bedrooms	$1,393	$1,260	+10.6%	$1,254 – $1,532

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 Marion County that is typically $954 to $1,166 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?

$37,169median income of renter households

$808Median gross rent, all units

26%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

41%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $37,169 can afford about $929 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,060 is $131 (14.1%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $42,400 a year under the 30% rule, or $38,160 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Marion County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$808 ±$47
Median income of renter households	$37,169 ±$7,208
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	41.3% ±7.1
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.2% ±5.3
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	3,111

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$665	$808	+21.5%
Median renter household income	$28,447	$37,169	+30.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	38.0%	41.3%	+3.3 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 Marion County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $80,500 (FY2025: $83,600, −3.7%). 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%)	$16,950 −3.7%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$49,950 +2.7%	$53,150 −1.8%
Very low income (50%)	$28,200 −3.8%	$32,200 −3.7%	$36,250 −3.7%	$40,250 −3.7%	$43,500 −3.7%	$46,700 −3.7%	$49,950 −3.7%	$53,150 −3.7%
Low income (80%)	$45,100 −3.7%	$51,550 −3.7%	$58,000 −3.7%	$64,400 −3.7%	$69,600 −3.7%	$74,750 −3.7%	$79,900 −3.7%	$85,050 −3.7%

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.