Hettinger County, ND: 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).

$1,1022-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8671-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$87,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$109,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Hettinger County is $1,102 a month, up 18.9% from $927 in FY2026. Hettinger County belongs to the Hettinger County, ND 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 Hettinger County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$861	$740	+16.4%	$775 – $947
1 bedroom	$867	$745	+16.4%	$781 – $953
2 bedrooms	$1,102	$927	+18.9%	$992 – $1,212
3 bedrooms	$1,392	$1,149	+21.1%	$1,253 – $1,531
4 bedrooms	$1,842	$1,555	+18.5%	$1,658 – $2,026

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 Hettinger County that is typically $992 to $1,212 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?

$34,375median income of renter households

$785Median gross rent, all units

27%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 $34,375 can afford about $859 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,102 is $243 (28.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $44,080 a year under the 30% rule, or $39,672 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Hettinger County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$785 ±$70
Median income of renter households	$34,375 ±$15,689
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	35.6% ±10.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	24.0% ±9.5
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	233

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$672	$785	+16.8%
Median renter household income	$29,219	$34,375	+17.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	50.3%	35.6%	−14.7 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.

HUD income limits for Hettinger County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $109,400 (FY2025: $104,900, +4.3%). 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%)	$23,000 +4.3%	$26,250 +4.2%	$29,550 +4.2%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$38,300 +4.2%	$43,800 +4.3%	$49,250 +4.2%	$54,700 +4.3%	$59,100 +4.3%	$63,500 +4.4%	$67,850 +4.3%	$72,250 +4.3%
Low income (80%)	$61,250 +4.3%	$70,000 +4.2%	$78,750 +4.2%	$87,500 +4.3%	$94,500 +4.2%	$101,500 +4.3%	$108,500 +4.3%	$115,500 +4.3%

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.