Hancock 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).

$1,1892-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9091-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$82,70080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$105,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Hancock County is $1,189 a month, up 5.5% from $1,127 in FY2026. Hancock County belongs to the Hancock 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 Hancock County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$828	$777	+6.6%	$746 – $910
1 bedroom	$909	$859	+5.8%	$819 – $999
2 bedrooms	$1,189	$1,127	+5.5%	$1,071 – $1,307
3 bedrooms	$1,546	$1,484	+4.2%	$1,392 – $1,700
4 bedrooms	$1,752	$1,693	+3.5%	$1,577 – $1,927

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 Hancock County that is typically $1,071 to $1,307 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?

$44,377median income of renter households

$979Median gross rent, all units

26%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

37%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $44,377 can afford about $1,109 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,189 is $80 (7.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $47,560 a year under the 30% rule, or $42,804 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Hancock County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$979 ±$65
Median income of renter households	$44,377 ±$3,421
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	36.7% ±5.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	19.1% ±4.3
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	8,771

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$768	$979	+27.5%
Median renter household income	$35,336	$44,377	+25.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	37.5%	36.7%	−0.8 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 Hancock County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $105,900 (FY2025: $94,000, +12.7%). 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%)	$21,700 +9.9%	$24,800 +9.7%	$27,900 +4.7%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$36,150 +9.9%	$41,350 +10.0%	$46,500 +9.9%	$51,700 +10.0%	$55,850 +9.9%	$60,000 +10.0%	$64,100 +9.9%	$68,250 +10.0%
Low income (80%)	$57,900 +10.0%	$66,200 +10.0%	$74,450 +10.0%	$82,700 +10.0%	$89,350 +10.0%	$95,950 +10.0%	$102,550 +10.0%	$109,200 +10.0%

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.