Pierce 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).

$1,0142-bedroom FMR, FY2027
$7971-bedroom FMR, FY2027
$85,70080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)
$98,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Pierce County is $1,014 a month, up 16.2% from $873 in FY2026. Pierce County belongs to the Pierce 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 Pierce County by bedroom count

Unit sizeFY2027 FMRFY2026 FMRChangePayment standard range (90–110%)
Studio$792$727+8.9%$713 – $871
1 bedroom$797$755+5.6%$718 – $876
2 bedrooms$1,014$873+16.2%$913 – $1,115
3 bedrooms$1,404$1,214+15.7%$1,264 – $1,544
4 bedrooms$1,695$1,464+15.8%$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 Pierce County that is typically $913 to $1,115 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?

$40,800median income of renter households
$850Median gross rent, all units
25%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)
39%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $40,800 can afford about $1,020 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,014 is $6 (0.6%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,560 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,504 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Pierce County, ACS 2020–2024Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)$850 ±$20
Median income of renter households$40,800 ±$15,085
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)39.2% ±22.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)17.0% ±11.6
Renter households (where the share can be computed)306

Change since 2015–2019

ACS 2015–2019ACS 2020–2024Change
Median gross rent$680$850+25.0%
Median renter household income$20,789$40,800+96.3%
Renters paying 30%+ of income52.1%39.2%−12.9 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 Pierce County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $98,300 (FY2025: $102,000, −3.6%). Small figures under each limit show the change from FY2025.

Household size1 person2 people3 people4 people5 people6 people7 people8 people
Extremely low income (30%)$22,550
+2.7%
$25,750
+2.8%
$28,950
+2.7%
$33,000
+2.6%
$38,680
+2.7%
$44,360
+2.8%
$50,040
+2.9%
$55,720
+2.9%
Very low income (50%)$37,500
+2.6%
$42,850
+2.5%
$48,200
+2.6%
$53,550
+2.6%
$57,850
+2.6%
$62,150
+2.6%
$66,450
+2.6%
$70,700
+2.5%
Low income (80%)$60,000
+2.7%
$68,600
+2.7%
$77,150
+2.7%
$85,700
+2.6%
$92,600
+2.7%
$99,450
+2.6%
$106,300
+2.7%
$113,150
+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.

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