Howard 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

$9241-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$80,00080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$100,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Howard County is $1,014 a month, down 3.3% from $1,049 in FY2026. Howard County belongs to the Howard County, NE HUD Metro FMR Area FMR area, 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 Howard County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$754	$752	+0.3%	$679 – $829
1 bedroom	$924	$910	+1.5%	$832 – $1,016
2 bedrooms	$1,014	$1,049	−3.3%	$913 – $1,115
3 bedrooms	$1,260	$1,258	+0.2%	$1,134 – $1,386
4 bedrooms	$1,695	$1,389	+22.0%	$1,526 – $1,864

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 Howard 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?

$42,703median income of renter households

$777Median gross rent, all units

22%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

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

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $42,703 can afford about $1,068 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,014 is $54 (5.0%) 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.

Howard County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$777 ±$115
Median income of renter households	$42,703 ±$6,999
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	29.7% ±9.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	10.1% ±8.3
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	474

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$685	$777	+13.4%
Median renter household income	$29,542	$42,703	+44.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	46.2%	29.7%	−16.5 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.

Small Area FMRs by ZIP code (FY2027)

In metro areas HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area Fair Market Rents. Housing authorities in designated areas must use them for voucher payment standards; others may opt in. Here the two-bedroom SAFMR ranges from $1,010 to $1,320 depending on the ZIP code.

All 14 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
68801	$900	$970	$1,210	$1,510	$1,930
68803	$910	$980	$1,220	$1,520	$1,940
68816	$870	$930	$1,180	$1,610	$1,920
68817	$730	$820	$1,010	$1,410	$1,610
68820	$750	$920	$1,010	$1,260	$1,700
68824	$800	$890	$1,100	$1,380	$1,810
68831	$800	$970	$1,100	$1,380	$1,810
68835	$770	$950	$1,040	$1,290	$1,740
68838	$760	$910	$1,030	$1,310	$1,700
68864	$930	$1,010	$1,260	$1,690	$2,030
68872	$980	$1,170	$1,320	$1,660	$2,190
68873	$750	$920	$1,010	$1,260	$1,700
68875	$730	$820	$1,010	$1,210	$1,390
68882	$770	$820	$1,060	$1,270	$1,470

Source: HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs (effective October 1, 2026).

HUD income limits for Howard County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $100,000 (FY2025: $97,700, +2.4%). 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%)	$21,000 +2.2%	$24,000 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$35,000 +2.3%	$40,000 +2.3%	$45,000 +2.3%	$50,000 +2.4%	$54,000 +2.3%	$58,000 +2.3%	$62,000 +2.3%	$66,000 +2.3%
Low income (80%)	$56,000 +2.3%	$64,000 +2.3%	$72,000 +2.3%	$80,000 +2.4%	$86,400 +2.3%	$92,800 +2.3%	$99,200 +2.3%	$105,600 +2.3%

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.