Harlan County, NE: 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).

$1,0142-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8381-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$85,10080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$106,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Harlan County is $1,014 a month, up 5.5% from $961 in FY2026. Harlan County belongs to the Harlan County, NE 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 Harlan County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$734	$666	+10.2%	$661 – $807
1 bedroom	$838	$752	+11.4%	$755 – $921
2 bedrooms	$1,014	$961	+5.5%	$913 – $1,115
3 bedrooms	$1,374	$1,268	+8.4%	$1,237 – $1,511
4 bedrooms	$1,380	$1,272	+8.5%	$1,242 – $1,518

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 Harlan County that is typically $913 to $1,115 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?

$47,500median income of renter households

$657Median gross rent, all units

17%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

24%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $47,500 can afford about $1,188 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,014 is $174 (14.6%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,560 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,504 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Harlan County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$657 ±$35
Median income of renter households	$47,500 ±$21,785
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	23.8% ±12.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	11.1% ±8.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	126

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$634	$657	+3.6%
Median renter household income	$31,667	$47,500	+50.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	40.9%	23.8%	−17.1 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 Harlan County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $106,400 (FY2025: $101,300, +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%)	$22,350 +6.4%	$25,550 +6.5%	$28,750 +6.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$37,250 +6.4%	$42,600 +6.6%	$47,900 +6.6%	$53,200 +6.5%	$57,500 +6.6%	$61,750 +6.6%	$66,000 +6.5%	$70,250 +6.5%
Low income (80%)	$59,600 +6.5%	$68,100 +6.5%	$76,600 +6.5%	$85,100 +6.5%	$91,950 +6.5%	$98,750 +6.5%	$105,550 +6.5%	$112,350 +6.5%

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.