Blair County, PA: 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).

$1,1512-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9591-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$73,70080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$92,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Blair County is $1,151 a month, up 1.1% from $1,138 in FY2026. Blair County belongs to the Altoona, PA 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 Blair County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$805	$802	+0.4%	$725 – $885
1 bedroom	$959	$948	+1.2%	$864 – $1,054
2 bedrooms	$1,151	$1,138	+1.1%	$1,036 – $1,266
3 bedrooms	$1,477	$1,458	+1.3%	$1,330 – $1,624
4 bedrooms	$1,708	$1,705	+0.2%	$1,538 – $1,878

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 Blair County that is typically $1,036 to $1,266 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?

$37,129median income of renter households

$885Median gross rent, all units

29%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 $37,129 can afford about $928 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,151 is $223 (24.0%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $46,040 a year under the 30% rule, or $41,436 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Blair County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$885 ±$33
Median income of renter households	$37,129 ±$2,818
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	46.4% ±3.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	19.5% ±2.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	12,414

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$722	$885	+22.6%
Median renter household income	$27,842	$37,129	+33.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	49.6%	46.4%	−3.2 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 $1,030 to $1,380 depending on the ZIP code.

All 23 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
15946	$830	$860	$1,030	$1,410	$1,540
16601	$790	$940	$1,130	$1,450	$1,680
16602	$780	$930	$1,120	$1,440	$1,660
16603	$800	$960	$1,150	$1,480	$1,710
16611	$990	$1,070	$1,220	$1,690	$2,040
16613	$910	$980	$1,180	$1,590	$1,700
16617	$800	$960	$1,150	$1,480	$1,710
16625	$830	$960	$1,170	$1,500	$1,750
16631	$780	$910	$1,110	$1,420	$1,650
16635	$890	$1,060	$1,270	$1,630	$1,880
16636	$1,080	$1,140	$1,380	$1,860	$2,000
16637	$850	$1,020	$1,220	$1,570	$1,810
16641	$840	$860	$1,030	$1,420	$1,540
16648	$910	$1,080	$1,300	$1,670	$1,930
16655	$740	$860	$1,030	$1,320	$1,540
16662	$770	$900	$1,090	$1,400	$1,620
16665	$830	$980	$1,180	$1,510	$1,750
16673	$800	$940	$1,140	$1,460	$1,700
16682	$820	$950	$1,160	$1,480	$1,730
16684	$740	$880	$1,050	$1,350	$1,560
16686	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16693	$730	$860	$1,030	$1,320	$1,540
16870	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680

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

HUD income limits for Blair County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $92,400 (FY2025: $83,800, +10.3%). 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%)	$19,400 +9.9%	$22,150 +4.7%	$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%)	$32,250 +9.9%	$36,850 +9.8%	$41,450 +9.8%	$46,050 +9.9%	$49,750 +9.8%	$53,450 +9.9%	$57,150 +9.9%	$60,800 +9.8%
Low income (80%)	$51,600 +9.9%	$59,000 +10.0%	$66,350 +9.9%	$73,700 +9.9%	$79,600 +9.9%	$85,500 +9.9%	$91,400 +9.9%	$97,300 +9.9%

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.