Darke 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).

$1,0032-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8321-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$70,25080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$87,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Darke County is $1,003 a month, up 3.1% from $973 in FY2026. Darke County belongs to the Darke County, OH 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 Darke County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$827	$801	+3.2%	$745 – $909
1 bedroom	$832	$806	+3.2%	$749 – $915
2 bedrooms	$1,003	$973	+3.1%	$903 – $1,103
3 bedrooms	$1,350	$1,290	+4.7%	$1,215 – $1,485
4 bedrooms	$1,352	$1,295	+4.4%	$1,217 – $1,487

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 Darke County that is typically $903 to $1,103 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?

$38,546median income of renter households

$779Median gross rent, all units

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

41%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $38,546 can afford about $964 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,003 is $39 (4.1%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,120 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,108 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Darke County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$779 ±$30
Median income of renter households	$38,546 ±$3,290
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	40.9% ±5.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	17.9% ±3.6
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	5,342

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$673	$779	+15.8%
Median renter household income	$35,943	$38,546	+7.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	34.1%	40.9%	+6.8 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 Darke County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $87,800 (FY2025: $87,900, −0.1%). 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 ±0.0%	$21,640 +2.3%	$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%)	$30,750 −0.2%	$35,150 −0.1%	$39,550 −0.1%	$43,900 −0.1%	$47,450 −0.1%	$50,950 −0.1%	$54,450 −0.1%	$57,950 −0.2%
Low income (80%)	$49,200 −0.1%	$56,200 −0.1%	$63,250 −0.1%	$70,250 −0.1%	$75,900 −0.1%	$81,500 −0.1%	$87,150 −0.1%	$92,750 −0.1%

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.