Polk County, NC: 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).

$1,0122-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8851-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$74,65080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$93,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Polk County is $1,012 a month, up 3.0% from $983 in FY2026. Polk County belongs to the Polk County, NC 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 Polk County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$757	$824	−8.1%	$682 – $832
1 bedroom	$885	$829	+6.8%	$797 – $973
2 bedrooms	$1,012	$983	+3.0%	$911 – $1,113
3 bedrooms	$1,401	$1,351	+3.7%	$1,261 – $1,541
4 bedrooms	$1,692	$1,649	+2.6%	$1,523 – $1,861

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 Polk County that is typically $911 to $1,113 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?

$36,681median income of renter households

$1,178Median gross rent, all units

39%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

52%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $36,681 can afford about $917 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,012 is $95 (10.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,480 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,432 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Polk County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,178 ±$119
Median income of renter households	$36,681 ±$6,963
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	52.1% ±17.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	30.6% ±1.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,502

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$851	$1,178	+38.4%
Median renter household income	$35,556	$36,681	+3.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	44.9%	52.1%	+7.2 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 Polk County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $93,800 (FY2025: $86,700, +8.2%). 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%)	$19,600 +9.8%	$22,400 +5.9%	$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%)	$32,700 +9.9%	$37,350 +9.9%	$42,000 +9.8%	$46,650 +9.9%	$50,400 +9.9%	$54,150 +9.9%	$57,850 +9.9%	$61,600 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$52,300 +10.0%	$59,750 +9.9%	$67,200 +9.9%	$74,650 +9.9%	$80,650 +10.0%	$86,600 +9.9%	$92,600 +10.0%	$98,550 +9.9%

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.