Lancaster 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).

$1,2302-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0091-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$85,30080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$106,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Lancaster County is $1,230 a month, up 7.8% from $1,141 in FY2026. Lancaster County belongs to the Lincoln, 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 Lancaster County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$948	$855	+10.9%	$854 – $1,042
1 bedroom	$1,009	$926	+9.0%	$909 – $1,109
2 bedrooms	$1,230	$1,141	+7.8%	$1,107 – $1,353
3 bedrooms	$1,703	$1,587	+7.3%	$1,533 – $1,873
4 bedrooms	$1,915	$1,712	+11.9%	$1,724 – $2,106

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 Lancaster County that is typically $1,107 to $1,353 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?

$46,515median income of renter households

$1,085Median gross rent, all units

28%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

47%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $46,515 can afford about $1,163 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,230 is $67 (5.8%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $49,200 a year under the 30% rule, or $44,280 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Lancaster County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,085 ±$19
Median income of renter households	$46,515 ±$1,325
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	47.0% ±2.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	22.4% ±1.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	52,769

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$852	$1,085	+27.3%
Median renter household income	$36,363	$46,515	+27.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	45.3%	47.0%	+1.7 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.

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 $1,030 to $1,820 depending on the ZIP code.

All 51 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
68003	$900	$980	$1,120	$1,490	$1,790
68017	$900	$980	$1,120	$1,500	$1,800
68065	$820	$890	$1,030	$1,430	$1,640
68301	$840	$910	$1,180	$1,460	$1,830
68317	$1,070	$1,140	$1,390	$1,920	$2,160
68331	$1,000	$1,100	$1,440	$1,720	$2,250
68333	$770	$840	$1,060	$1,460	$1,610
68336	$910	$980	$1,140	$1,540	$1,820
68339	$940	$1,000	$1,220	$1,690	$1,900
68347	$830	$870	$1,060	$1,400	$1,550
68358	$900	$960	$1,180	$1,610	$1,840
68360	$820	$840	$1,050	$1,460	$1,710
68366	$1,120	$1,180	$1,400	$1,870	$2,120
68368	$890	$940	$1,150	$1,590	$1,790
68372	$1,240	$1,320	$1,610	$2,230	$2,510
68402	$820	$880	$1,070	$1,480	$1,670
68404	$900	$960	$1,190	$1,640	$1,850
68419	$990	$1,060	$1,330	$1,760	$2,070
68423	$790	$840	$1,030	$1,430	$1,670
68428	$990	$1,120	$1,380	$1,930	$2,060
68430	$800	$850	$1,040	$1,440	$1,620
68438	$1,400	$1,490	$1,820	$2,520	$2,830
68461	$1,180	$1,250	$1,530	$2,100	$2,350
68462	$930	$990	$1,210	$1,680	$1,880
68465	$790	$870	$1,140	$1,570	$1,730
68501	$950	$1,010	$1,230	$1,700	$1,910
68502	$780	$840	$1,030	$1,430	$1,590
68503	$880	$940	$1,140	$1,580	$1,770
68504	$900	$960	$1,170	$1,620	$1,820
68505	$1,000	$1,070	$1,300	$1,800	$2,020
68506	$1,030	$1,090	$1,330	$1,840	$2,070
68507	$820	$870	$1,060	$1,470	$1,650
68508	$820	$880	$1,070	$1,480	$1,670
68510	$790	$850	$1,030	$1,430	$1,600
68512	$1,110	$1,180	$1,440	$1,990	$2,240
68514	$900	$970	$1,140	$1,550	$1,810
68516	$1,130	$1,210	$1,470	$2,040	$2,290
68517	$900	$960	$1,160	$1,610	$1,820
68520	$1,390	$1,480	$1,800	$2,490	$2,800
68521	$1,130	$1,200	$1,460	$2,020	$2,270
68522	$1,070	$1,140	$1,390	$1,920	$2,160
68523	$1,000	$1,060	$1,300	$1,800	$2,020
68524	$860	$920	$1,120	$1,550	$1,740
68526	$1,170	$1,250	$1,520	$2,100	$2,370
68527	$1,030	$1,100	$1,340	$1,840	$2,060
68528	$1,160	$1,230	$1,500	$2,080	$2,330
68529	$950	$1,010	$1,230	$1,700	$1,910
68531	$1,010	$1,080	$1,310	$1,820	$2,040
68532	$1,040	$1,100	$1,350	$1,870	$2,100
68542	$950	$1,010	$1,230	$1,700	$1,910
68588	$950	$1,010	$1,230	$1,700	$1,910

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

HUD income limits for Lancaster County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $106,600 (FY2025: $107,500, −0.8%). 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%)	$22,400 −0.9%	$25,600 −0.8%	$28,800 −0.9%	$33,000 +2.3%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$37,350 −0.8%	$42,650 −0.8%	$48,000 −0.8%	$53,300 −0.8%	$57,600 −0.8%	$61,850 −0.8%	$66,100 −0.8%	$70,400 −0.8%
Low income (80%)	$59,750 −0.7%	$68,250 −0.8%	$76,800 −0.8%	$85,300 −0.8%	$92,150 −0.8%	$98,950 −0.9%	$105,800 −0.8%	$112,600 −0.8%

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.