Muskingum 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

$8671-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$82,800Median family income (FY2026)

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

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$862	$815	+5.8%	$776 – $948
1 bedroom	$867	$820	+5.7%	$781 – $953
2 bedrooms	$1,003	$973	+3.1%	$903 – $1,103
3 bedrooms	$1,355	$1,324	+2.3%	$1,220 – $1,490
4 bedrooms	$1,496	$1,438	+4.0%	$1,347 – $1,645

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 Muskingum 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?

$36,299median income of renter households

$833Median gross rent, all units

28%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

46%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $36,299 can afford about $907 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,003 is $96 (10.5%) 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.

Muskingum County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$833 ±$32
Median income of renter households	$36,299 ±$2,994
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	45.9% ±4.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	19.8% ±3.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	10,229

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$703	$833	+18.5%
Median renter household income	$24,622	$36,299	+47.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	50.3%	45.9%	−4.4 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 Muskingum County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $82,800 (FY2025: $80,500, +2.9%). 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.