Ward 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).

$1,0492-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8641-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$95,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Ward County is $1,049 a month, down 10.0% from $1,165 in FY2026. Ward County belongs to the Ward County, ND HUD Metro FMR Area FMR area, 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 Ward County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$726	$806	−9.9%	$654 – $798
1 bedroom	$864	$960	−10.0%	$778 – $950
2 bedrooms	$1,049	$1,165	−10.0%	$945 – $1,153
3 bedrooms	$1,458	$1,620	−10.0%	$1,313 – $1,603
4 bedrooms	$1,759	$1,954	−10.0%	$1,584 – $1,934

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 Ward County that is typically $945 to $1,153 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?

$53,445median income of renter households

$1,048Median gross rent, all units

24%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

38%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $53,445 can afford about $1,336 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,049 is $287 (21.5%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $41,960 a year under the 30% rule, or $37,764 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Ward County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,048 ±$36
Median income of renter households	$53,445 ±$3,319
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	38.3% ±4.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	17.5% ±4.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	10,684

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$981	$1,048	+6.8%
Median renter household income	$47,703	$53,445	+12.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	40.5%	38.3%	−2.2 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.

Small Area FMRs by ZIP code (FY2027)

In metro areas HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area Fair Market Rents. Housing authorities in designated areas must use them for voucher payment standards; others may opt in. Here the two-bedroom SAFMR ranges from $1,050 to $1,460 depending on the ZIP code.

All 26 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
58701	$730	$870	$1,050	$1,460	$1,760
58702	$730	$870	$1,060	$1,470	$1,770
58703	$730	$870	$1,050	$1,460	$1,760
58704	$1,010	$1,210	$1,460	$2,030	$2,450
58705	$850	$1,020	$1,230	$1,710	$2,070
58707	$730	$870	$1,050	$1,460	$1,760
58716	$860	$930	$1,090	$1,510	$1,830
58718	$820	$920	$1,150	$1,460	$1,760
58721	$840	$870	$1,050	$1,460	$1,760
58722	$730	$870	$1,050	$1,460	$1,760
58725	$730	$870	$1,050	$1,460	$1,760
58731	$750	$870	$1,050	$1,460	$1,760
58733	$730	$870	$1,050	$1,460	$1,760
58734	$750	$870	$1,070	$1,460	$1,760
58735	$970	$1,140	$1,370	$1,900	$2,290
58740	$850	$950	$1,220	$1,690	$2,000
58746	$730	$870	$1,050	$1,460	$1,760
58756	$760	$890	$1,100	$1,480	$1,760
58759	$960	$990	$1,140	$1,570	$1,900
58768	$730	$870	$1,050	$1,460	$1,760
58771	$920	$1,030	$1,320	$1,620	$1,820
58779	$880	$950	$1,140	$1,530	$1,810
58781	$770	$920	$1,110	$1,540	$1,860
58785	$890	$990	$1,270	$1,790	$2,130
58787	$740	$870	$1,050	$1,460	$1,760
58790	$730	$870	$1,050	$1,460	$1,760

Source: HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs (effective October 1, 2026).

HUD income limits for Ward County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $95,700 (FY2025: $112,300, −14.8%). 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 −4.4%	$25,750 −4.6%	$28,950 −4.6%	$33,000 −2.1%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$37,500 −4.7%	$42,850 −4.7%	$48,200 −4.6%	$53,550 −4.6%	$57,850 −4.6%	$62,150 −4.6%	$66,450 −4.6%	$70,700 −4.7%
Low income (80%)	$60,000 −4.6%	$68,600 −4.6%	$77,150 −4.6%	$85,700 −4.6%	$92,600 −4.6%	$99,450 −4.6%	$106,300 −4.6%	$113,150 −4.6%

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.