Wayne 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

$8841-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$60,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Wayne County is $962 a month, up 8.3% from $888 in FY2026. Wayne County belongs to the Wayne 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 Wayne 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	$884	$810	+9.1%	$796 – $972
2 bedrooms	$962	$888	+8.3%	$866 – $1,058
3 bedrooms	$1,146	$1,065	+7.6%	$1,032 – $1,260
4 bedrooms	$1,608	$1,490	+7.9%	$1,448 – $1,768

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 Wayne 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?

$34,750median income of renter households

$665Median gross rent, all units

23%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

49%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $34,750 can afford about $869 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $962 is $93 (10.7%) more 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.

Wayne County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$665 ±$37
Median income of renter households	$34,750 ±$10,989
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	48.7% ±8.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	26.9% ±9.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	931

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$566	$665	+17.5%
Median renter household income	$21,689	$34,750	+60.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	41.0%	48.7%	+7.7 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 Wayne County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $60,400 (FY2025: $61,600, −1.9%). 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 +0.5%	$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 +0.6%	$48,050 +0.5%	$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.