Jefferson 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).

$1,0072-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7761-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$80,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Jefferson County is $1,007 a month, up 3.5% from $973 in FY2026. Jefferson County belongs to the Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH MSA 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 Jefferson County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$771	$752	+2.5%	$694 – $848
1 bedroom	$776	$757	+2.5%	$699 – $853
2 bedrooms	$1,007	$973	+3.5%	$907 – $1,107
3 bedrooms	$1,298	$1,285	+1.0%	$1,169 – $1,427
4 bedrooms	$1,514	$1,482	+2.2%	$1,363 – $1,665

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 Jefferson County that is typically $907 to $1,107 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?

$32,606median income of renter households

$835Median gross rent, all units

31%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

44%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $32,606 can afford about $815 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,007 is $192 (23.5%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,280 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,252 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Jefferson County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$835 ±$26
Median income of renter households	$32,606 ±$2,746
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	44.0% ±5.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	22.7% ±4.5
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	6,534

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$675	$835	+23.7%
Median renter household income	$24,298	$32,606	+34.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	46.7%	44.0%	−2.7 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 $1,510 depending on the ZIP code.

All 40 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
26003	$770	$900	$1,100	$1,420	$1,570
26030	$770	$770	$1,000	$1,290	$1,510
26032	$760	$770	$1,000	$1,290	$1,500
26034	$800	$800	$1,040	$1,340	$1,560
26035	$810	$820	$1,050	$1,350	$1,550
26037	$770	$770	$1,000	$1,290	$1,510
26047	$810	$820	$1,060	$1,370	$1,590
26050	$770	$770	$1,000	$1,290	$1,510
26056	$810	$820	$1,060	$1,370	$1,590
26058	$790	$860	$1,090	$1,400	$1,590
26060	$810	$940	$1,160	$1,490	$1,650
26062	$770	$770	$1,000	$1,290	$1,510
26070	$770	$770	$1,000	$1,290	$1,510
26075	$820	$820	$1,070	$1,380	$1,610
43901	$890	$920	$1,180	$1,530	$1,730
43903	$730	$780	$1,000	$1,290	$1,430
43907	$760	$770	$1,000	$1,330	$1,340
43908	$760	$770	$1,000	$1,290	$1,490
43910	$1,150	$1,160	$1,510	$1,950	$2,260
43913	$770	$770	$1,000	$1,290	$1,510
43917	$760	$790	$1,010	$1,300	$1,510
43925	$1,040	$1,050	$1,360	$1,760	$2,040
43926	$770	$770	$1,000	$1,290	$1,510
43930	$830	$850	$1,080	$1,400	$1,530
43932	$840	$850	$1,090	$1,410	$1,610
43938	$900	$910	$1,180	$1,520	$1,770
43939	$770	$780	$1,010	$1,300	$1,520
43941	$810	$820	$1,060	$1,370	$1,590
43943	$770	$770	$1,000	$1,290	$1,510
43944	$870	$880	$1,140	$1,470	$1,710
43945	$830	$860	$1,090	$1,400	$1,470
43948	$920	$920	$1,200	$1,550	$1,800
43952	$790	$790	$1,030	$1,330	$1,550
43953	$860	$860	$1,120	$1,440	$1,680
43961	$770	$770	$1,000	$1,290	$1,510
43963	$800	$810	$1,050	$1,350	$1,580
43964	$770	$770	$1,000	$1,290	$1,510
43970	$810	$820	$1,060	$1,370	$1,590
43971	$740	$790	$1,000	$1,290	$1,470
43986	$760	$770	$1,000	$1,330	$1,340

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

HUD income limits for Jefferson County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $80,600 (FY2025: $80,200, +0.5%). 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 +3.1%	$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%)	$30,700 +2.8%	$35,100 +2.9%	$39,500 +3.0%	$43,850 +2.9%	$47,400 +2.9%	$50,900 +2.9%	$54,400 +2.9%	$57,900 +2.9%
Low income (80%)	$49,150 +2.9%	$56,150 +2.9%	$63,150 +2.9%	$70,150 +2.9%	$75,800 +2.9%	$81,400 +2.9%	$87,000 +2.9%	$92,600 +2.9%

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.