Mercer 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).

$9732-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7441-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$74,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Mercer County is $973 a month, up 9.6% from $888 in FY2026. Mercer County belongs to the Mercer 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 Mercer County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$717	$660	+8.6%	$646 – $788
1 bedroom	$744	$677	+9.9%	$670 – $818
2 bedrooms	$973	$888	+9.6%	$876 – $1,070
3 bedrooms	$1,263	$1,235	+2.3%	$1,137 – $1,389
4 bedrooms	$1,460	$1,320	+10.6%	$1,314 – $1,606

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 Mercer County that is typically $876 to $1,070 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?

$29,583median income of renter households

$590Median gross rent, all units

24%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

29%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $29,583 can afford about $740 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $973 is $233 (31.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $38,920 a year under the 30% rule, or $35,028 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Mercer County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$590 ±$150
Median income of renter households	$29,583 ±$6,535
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	29.3% ±8.0
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	10.6% ±7.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	198

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$495	$590	+19.2%
Median renter household income	$27,500	$29,583	+7.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	21.2%	29.3%	+8.1 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 Mercer County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $74,700 (FY2025: $76,400, −2.2%). 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 +0.4%	$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 +0.4%	$48,050 +0.4%	$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.