Stark 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).

$1,0492-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8271-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$72,30080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$90,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Stark County is $1,049 a month, down 3.4% from $1,086 in FY2026. Stark County belongs to the Canton-Massillon, 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 Stark County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$734	$749	−2.0%	$661 – $807
1 bedroom	$827	$846	−2.2%	$745 – $909
2 bedrooms	$1,049	$1,086	−3.4%	$945 – $1,153
3 bedrooms	$1,327	$1,371	−3.2%	$1,195 – $1,459
4 bedrooms	$1,421	$1,451	−2.1%	$1,279 – $1,563

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 Stark County that is typically $945 to $1,153 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?

$39,074median income of renter households

$909Median gross rent, all units

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

42%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $39,074 can afford about $977 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,049 is $72 (7.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $41,960 a year under the 30% rule, or $37,764 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Stark County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$909 ±$12
Median income of renter households	$39,074 ±$1,984
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	42.3% ±2.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.2% ±1.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	44,480

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$741	$909	+22.7%
Median renter household income	$30,915	$39,074	+26.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	42.4%	42.3%	−0.1 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 $1,500 depending on the ZIP code.

All 67 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
43903	$730	$780	$1,000	$1,290	$1,430
43908	$760	$770	$1,000	$1,290	$1,490
43945	$830	$860	$1,090	$1,400	$1,470
43986	$760	$770	$1,000	$1,330	$1,340
43988	$850	$880	$1,140	$1,510	$1,530
44201	$860	$930	$1,200	$1,450	$1,580
44216	$720	$780	$1,000	$1,210	$1,320
44260	$840	$910	$1,170	$1,400	$1,540
44427	$810	$880	$1,090	$1,390	$1,450
44601	$710	$790	$1,000	$1,270	$1,360
44607	$890	$950	$1,210	$1,540	$1,610
44608	$890	$970	$1,250	$1,570	$1,720
44612	$760	$770	$1,000	$1,250	$1,460
44613	$740	$840	$1,060	$1,340	$1,440
44614	$760	$860	$1,090	$1,380	$1,480
44615	$700	$790	$1,000	$1,270	$1,360
44618	$720	$810	$1,040	$1,260	$1,460
44620	$700	$790	$1,000	$1,270	$1,360
44621	$780	$790	$1,030	$1,280	$1,490
44624	$800	$830	$1,080	$1,350	$1,480
44625	$1,030	$1,070	$1,350	$1,730	$1,780
44626	$800	$900	$1,140	$1,440	$1,550
44630	$760	$850	$1,090	$1,370	$1,460
44632	$830	$930	$1,180	$1,490	$1,600
44634	$760	$790	$1,000	$1,280	$1,330
44639	$750	$780	$1,010	$1,300	$1,390
44640	$1,020	$1,150	$1,460	$1,850	$1,980
44641	$700	$790	$1,000	$1,270	$1,360
44643	$760	$830	$1,060	$1,330	$1,470
44644	$700	$790	$1,000	$1,270	$1,360
44645	$920	$1,030	$1,320	$1,600	$1,860
44646	$740	$830	$1,050	$1,330	$1,420
44647	$790	$890	$1,130	$1,430	$1,530
44648	$740	$830	$1,050	$1,330	$1,420
44650	$740	$830	$1,050	$1,330	$1,420
44651	$780	$840	$1,060	$1,360	$1,440
44652	$730	$820	$1,040	$1,320	$1,410
44656	$760	$770	$1,000	$1,250	$1,470
44657	$740	$810	$1,030	$1,310	$1,390
44662	$710	$800	$1,010	$1,280	$1,380
44666	$770	$870	$1,110	$1,380	$1,530
44669	$700	$790	$1,000	$1,270	$1,360
44670	$710	$800	$1,010	$1,280	$1,370
44675	$920	$1,020	$1,300	$1,640	$1,780
44685	$1,060	$1,170	$1,500	$1,840	$1,990
44688	$700	$790	$1,000	$1,270	$1,360
44689	$800	$860	$1,110	$1,390	$1,480
44695	$740	$780	$1,000	$1,310	$1,350
44702	$700	$790	$1,000	$1,270	$1,360
44703	$700	$790	$1,000	$1,270	$1,360
44704	$700	$790	$1,000	$1,270	$1,360
44705	$740	$840	$1,060	$1,340	$1,440
44706	$740	$840	$1,060	$1,340	$1,440
44707	$700	$790	$1,000	$1,270	$1,360
44708	$760	$860	$1,090	$1,380	$1,480
44709	$700	$790	$1,000	$1,270	$1,360
44710	$780	$870	$1,110	$1,400	$1,500
44711	$740	$830	$1,050	$1,330	$1,420
44714	$750	$840	$1,070	$1,350	$1,450
44718	$730	$820	$1,040	$1,320	$1,410
44720	$830	$930	$1,180	$1,490	$1,600
44721	$740	$830	$1,050	$1,330	$1,420
44730	$710	$800	$1,020	$1,290	$1,380
44735	$740	$830	$1,050	$1,330	$1,420
44750	$740	$830	$1,050	$1,330	$1,420
44767	$740	$830	$1,050	$1,330	$1,420
44799	$740	$830	$1,050	$1,330	$1,420

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

HUD income limits for Stark County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $90,400 (FY2025: $86,500, +4.5%). 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%)	$19,000 +4.4%	$21,700 +2.6%	$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%)	$31,650 +4.5%	$36,200 +4.6%	$40,700 +4.5%	$45,200 +4.5%	$48,850 +4.5%	$52,450 +4.5%	$56,050 +4.5%	$59,700 +4.6%
Low income (80%)	$50,650 +4.5%	$57,850 +4.4%	$65,100 +4.5%	$72,300 +4.5%	$78,100 +4.5%	$83,900 +4.5%	$89,700 +4.5%	$95,450 +4.5%

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.