Brown County, OH: 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).

$1,0302-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8491-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$70,15080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$85,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Brown County is $1,030 a month, up 2.2% from $1,008 in FY2026. Brown County belongs to the Brown County, OH 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 Brown County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$844	$797	+5.9%	$760 – $928
1 bedroom	$849	$802	+5.9%	$765 – $933
2 bedrooms	$1,030	$1,008	+2.2%	$927 – $1,133
3 bedrooms	$1,425	$1,361	+4.7%	$1,283 – $1,567
4 bedrooms	$1,722	$1,691	+1.8%	$1,550 – $1,894

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 Brown County that is typically $927 to $1,133 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?

$33,219median income of renter households

$817Median gross rent, all units

30%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

49%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $33,219 can afford about $830 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,030 is $200 (24.0%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $41,200 a year under the 30% rule, or $37,080 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Brown County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$817 ±$45
Median income of renter households	$33,219 ±$6,538
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	48.7% ±6.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	21.6% ±5.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	3,175

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$719	$817	+13.6%
Median renter household income	$27,305	$33,219	+21.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	47.2%	48.7%	+1.5 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.

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 $1,000 to $1,370 depending on the ZIP code.

All 20 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
45101	$820	$830	$1,000	$1,380	$1,680
45106	$750	$800	$1,020	$1,350	$1,530
45107	$840	$880	$1,120	$1,460	$1,750
45115	$860	$890	$1,070	$1,450	$1,710
45118	$1,110	$1,130	$1,370	$1,890	$2,270
45119	$840	$860	$1,060	$1,440	$1,710
45120	$760	$800	$1,010	$1,360	$1,560
45121	$830	$830	$1,010	$1,410	$1,700
45130	$840	$860	$1,060	$1,440	$1,710
45131	$830	$830	$1,010	$1,400	$1,690
45133	$720	$900	$1,000	$1,230	$1,530
45142	$720	$880	$1,000	$1,230	$1,540
45144	$760	$850	$1,000	$1,260	$1,530
45148	$760	$790	$1,000	$1,300	$1,590
45154	$850	$870	$1,050	$1,430	$1,730
45167	$820	$830	$1,000	$1,390	$1,690
45168	$930	$940	$1,140	$1,580	$1,910
45171	$930	$1,000	$1,190	$1,580	$1,940
45176	$880	$920	$1,160	$1,550	$1,800
45697	$770	$850	$1,000	$1,280	$1,530

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

HUD income limits for Brown County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $85,000 (FY2025: $88,500, −4.0%). 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%)	$18,450 −0.8%	$21,640 +1.8%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$30,700 −1.0%	$35,100 −0.8%	$39,500 −0.9%	$43,850 −0.9%	$47,400 −0.8%	$50,900 −0.9%	$54,400 −0.9%	$57,900 −0.9%
Low income (80%)	$49,150 −0.9%	$56,150 −0.9%	$63,150 −0.9%	$70,150 −0.9%	$75,800 −0.9%	$81,400 −0.9%	$87,000 −0.9%	$92,600 −1.0%

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.