Monroe 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

$7681-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$67,75080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$84,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Monroe County is $962 a month, up 8.3% from $888 in FY2026. Monroe County belongs to the Monroe 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 Monroe County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$709	$660	+7.4%	$639 – $779
1 bedroom	$768	$677	+13.4%	$692 – $844
2 bedrooms	$962	$888	+8.3%	$866 – $1,058
3 bedrooms	$1,146	$1,065	+7.6%	$1,032 – $1,260
4 bedrooms	$1,449	$1,303	+11.2%	$1,305 – $1,593

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 Monroe 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?

$39,929median income of renter households

$689Median gross rent, all units

21%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

31%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $39,929 can afford about $998 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $962 is $36 (3.6%) 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.

Monroe County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$689 ±$32
Median income of renter households	$39,929 ±$3,661
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	31.0% ±8.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	11.4% ±5.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	772

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$561	$689	+22.8%
Median renter household income	$28,109	$39,929	+42.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	29.2%	31.0%	+1.8 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 Monroe County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $84,700 (FY2025: $78,600, +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%)	$17,800 +7.6%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +7.4%
Very low income (50%)	$29,650 +7.6%	$33,900 +7.8%	$38,150 +7.8%	$42,350 +7.8%	$45,750 +7.8%	$49,150 +7.8%	$52,550 +7.8%	$55,950 +7.8%
Low income (80%)	$47,450 +7.7%	$54,200 +7.6%	$61,000 +7.7%	$67,750 +7.7%	$73,200 +7.7%	$78,600 +7.7%	$84,050 +7.8%	$89,450 +7.7%

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.