Cayuga County, NY: 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).

$1,0742-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8771-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$71,90080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$86,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Cayuga County is $1,074 a month, down 4.4% from $1,124 in FY2026. Cayuga County belongs to the Cayuga County, NY 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 Cayuga County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$872	$884	−1.4%	$785 – $959
1 bedroom	$877	$889	−1.3%	$790 – $964
2 bedrooms	$1,074	$1,124	−4.4%	$967 – $1,181
3 bedrooms	$1,424	$1,463	−2.7%	$1,282 – $1,566
4 bedrooms	$1,637	$1,679	−2.5%	$1,474 – $1,800

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 Cayuga County that is typically $967 to $1,181 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?

$36,725median income of renter households

$942Median gross rent, all units

31%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

50%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $36,725 can afford about $918 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,074 is $156 (17.0%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $42,960 a year under the 30% rule, or $38,664 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Cayuga County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$942 ±$46
Median income of renter households	$36,725 ±$2,970
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	50.0% ±5.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	22.9% ±3.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	8,170

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$763	$942	+23.5%
Median renter household income	$34,467	$36,725	+6.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	42.5%	50.0%	+7.5 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.

HUD income limits for Cayuga County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $86,000 (FY2025: $83,500, +3.0%). 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%)	$18,900 +1.6%	$21,640 +1.8%	$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%)	$31,500 +1.6%	$36,000 +1.7%	$40,500 +1.6%	$44,950 +1.6%	$48,550 +1.6%	$52,150 +1.6%	$55,750 +1.5%	$59,350 +1.5%
Low income (80%)	$50,350 +1.5%	$57,550 +1.6%	$64,750 +1.6%	$71,900 +1.6%	$77,700 +1.6%	$83,450 +1.6%	$89,200 +1.6%	$94,950 +1.6%

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.