McKenzie 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).

$1,5772-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,2061-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$102,15080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$127,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in McKenzie County is $1,577 a month, up 16.5% from $1,354 in FY2026. McKenzie County belongs to the McKenzie 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 McKenzie County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,199	$1,117	+7.3%	$1,080 – $1,318
1 bedroom	$1,206	$1,124	+7.3%	$1,086 – $1,326
2 bedrooms	$1,577	$1,354	+16.5%	$1,420 – $1,734
3 bedrooms	$2,053	$1,672	+22.8%	$1,848 – $2,258
4 bedrooms	$2,636	$2,271	+16.1%	$2,373 – $2,899

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 McKenzie County that is typically $1,420 to $1,734 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?

$83,781median income of renter households

$1,284Median gross rent, all units

18%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

22%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $83,781 can afford about $2,095 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,577 is $518 (24.7%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $63,080 a year under the 30% rule, or $56,772 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

McKenzie County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,284 ±$81
Median income of renter households	$83,781 ±$6,798
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	22.2% ±8.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	8.5% ±4.3
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	2,563

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,098	$1,284	+16.9%
Median renter household income	$63,895	$83,781	+31.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	28.0%	22.2%	−5.8 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 McKenzie County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $127,700 (FY2025: $122,700, +4.1%). 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%)	$26,850 +8.0%	$30,650 +7.9%	$34,500 +8.0%	$38,300 +8.0%	$41,400 +8.1%	$44,450 +3.0%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$44,700 +8.0%	$51,100 +8.0%	$57,500 +8.1%	$63,850 +8.0%	$69,000 +8.1%	$74,100 +8.0%	$79,200 +8.0%	$84,300 +8.0%
Low income (80%)	$71,550 +8.1%	$81,750 +8.1%	$91,950 +8.0%	$102,150 +8.0%	$110,350 +8.0%	$118,500 +8.0%	$126,700 +8.1%	$134,850 +8.0%

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.