Merrick 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

$7751-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$77,20080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$96,500Median family income (FY2026)

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

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$754	$689	+9.4%	$679 – $829
1 bedroom	$775	$732	+5.9%	$698 – $852
2 bedrooms	$1,014	$961	+5.5%	$913 – $1,115
3 bedrooms	$1,404	$1,323	+6.1%	$1,264 – $1,544
4 bedrooms	$1,655	$1,612	+2.7%	$1,490 – $1,820

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 Merrick 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?

$52,571median income of renter households

$750Median gross rent, all units

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

36%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $52,571 can afford about $1,314 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,014 is $300 (22.8%) 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.

Merrick County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$750 ±$110
Median income of renter households	$52,571 ±$20,932
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	36.2% ±16.0
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	6.3% ±3.6
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	522

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$689	$750	+8.9%
Median renter household income	$37,932	$52,571	+38.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	31.8%	36.2%	+4.4 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 $1,470 depending on the ZIP code.

All 11 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
68601	$820	$870	$1,130	$1,480	$1,500
68628	$860	$890	$1,170	$1,580	$1,910
68638	$740	$930	$1,020	$1,220	$1,460
68640	$750	$940	$1,030	$1,260	$1,460
68663	$830	$870	$1,130	$1,500	$1,840
68801	$900	$970	$1,210	$1,510	$1,930
68816	$870	$930	$1,180	$1,610	$1,920
68826	$750	$780	$1,010	$1,410	$1,660
68827	$1,090	$1,120	$1,470	$2,040	$2,400
68864	$930	$1,010	$1,260	$1,690	$2,030
68872	$980	$1,170	$1,320	$1,660	$2,190

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

HUD income limits for Merrick County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $96,500 (FY2025: $89,800, +7.5%). 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%)	$20,300 +3.8%	$23,200 +3.8%	$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%)	$33,800 +3.8%	$38,600 +3.8%	$43,450 +3.8%	$48,250 +3.8%	$52,150 +3.8%	$56,000 +3.8%	$59,850 +3.7%	$63,700 +3.7%
Low income (80%)	$54,050 +3.7%	$61,800 +3.8%	$69,500 +3.7%	$77,200 +3.8%	$83,400 +3.7%	$89,600 +3.8%	$95,750 +3.7%	$101,950 +3.8%

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.