Ramsey 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

$8521-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$85,70080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$102,600Median family income (FY2026)

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

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$762	$602	+26.6%	$686 – $838
1 bedroom	$852	$719	+18.5%	$767 – $937
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 Ramsey 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?

$31,667median income of renter households

$714Median gross rent, all units

27%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

46%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $31,667 can afford about $792 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,014 is $222 (28.1%) more 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.

Ramsey County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$714 ±$28
Median income of renter households	$31,667 ±$6,173
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	46.4% ±11.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	16.6% ±7.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	2,222

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$565	$714	+26.4%
Median renter household income	$34,597	$31,667	−8.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	29.9%	46.4%	+16.5 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 Ramsey County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $102,600 (FY2025: $100,400, +2.2%). 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%)	$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.