Stone 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).

$1,0322-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7891-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$65,05080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$81,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Stone County is $1,032 a month, up 11.8% from $923 in FY2026. Stone County belongs to the Stone 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 Stone County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$719	$649	+10.8%	$648 – $790
1 bedroom	$789	$703	+12.2%	$711 – $867
2 bedrooms	$1,032	$923	+11.8%	$929 – $1,135
3 bedrooms	$1,429	$1,284	+11.3%	$1,287 – $1,571
4 bedrooms	$1,725	$1,548	+11.4%	$1,553 – $1,897

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 Stone County that is typically $929 to $1,135 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?

$41,681median income of renter households

$896Median gross rent, all units

26%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 $41,681 can afford about $1,042 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,032 is $10 (1.0%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $41,280 a year under the 30% rule, or $37,152 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Stone County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$896 ±$62
Median income of renter households	$41,681 ±$3,317
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	43.5% ±5.3
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.7% ±4.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,851

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$695	$896	+28.9%
Median renter household income	$32,434	$41,681	+28.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	42.5%	43.5%	+1.0 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 Stone County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $81,300 (FY2025: $77,400, +5.0%). 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%)	$17,100 +5.2%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +4.3%	$53,700 +5.1%
Very low income (50%)	$28,500 +5.2%	$32,550 +5.0%	$36,600 +5.0%	$40,650 +5.0%	$43,950 +5.1%	$47,200 +5.1%	$50,450 +5.1%	$53,700 +5.1%
Low income (80%)	$45,550 +5.1%	$52,050 +5.0%	$58,550 +5.0%	$65,050 +5.1%	$70,300 +5.1%	$75,500 +5.1%	$80,700 +5.1%	$85,900 +5.1%

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.