Mercer 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).

$1,2902-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9861-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$86,55080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$108,200Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Mercer County is $1,290 a month, up 11.6% from $1,156 in FY2026. Mercer County belongs to the Mercer 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 Mercer County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$980	$875	+12.0%	$882 – $1,078
1 bedroom	$986	$881	+11.9%	$888 – $1,084
2 bedrooms	$1,290	$1,156	+11.6%	$1,161 – $1,419
3 bedrooms	$1,689	$1,386	+21.9%	$1,521 – $1,857
4 bedrooms	$1,695	$1,531	+10.7%	$1,526 – $1,864

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 Mercer County that is typically $1,161 to $1,419 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?

$39,136median income of renter households

$1,031Median gross rent, all units

32%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

55%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $39,136 can afford about $978 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,290 is $312 (31.8%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $51,600 a year under the 30% rule, or $46,440 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Mercer County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,031 ±$210
Median income of renter households	$39,136 ±$8,913
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	55.4% ±17.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	26.7% ±13.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	663

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$769	$1,031	+34.1%
Median renter household income	$40,321	$39,136	−2.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	26.6%	55.4%	+28.8 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 Mercer County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $108,200 (FY2025: $111,100, −2.6%). 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%)	$22,750 −2.6%	$26,000 −2.6%	$29,250 −2.7%	$33,000 −1.0%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$37,900 −2.6%	$43,300 −2.6%	$48,700 −2.6%	$54,100 −2.6%	$58,450 −2.6%	$62,800 −2.6%	$67,100 −2.6%	$71,450 −2.6%
Low income (80%)	$60,600 −2.7%	$69,250 −2.7%	$77,900 −2.7%	$86,550 −2.6%	$93,500 −2.7%	$100,400 −2.7%	$107,350 −2.6%	$114,250 −2.6%

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.