Columbia 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).

$1,1362-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9261-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$72,65080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$90,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Columbia County is $1,136 a month, down 0.4% from $1,140 in FY2026. Columbia County belongs to the Columbia County, PA 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 Columbia County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$791	$786	+0.6%	$712 – $870
1 bedroom	$926	$941	−1.6%	$834 – $1,018
2 bedrooms	$1,136	$1,140	−0.4%	$1,023 – $1,249
3 bedrooms	$1,370	$1,367	+0.2%	$1,233 – $1,507
4 bedrooms	$1,559	$1,572	−0.8%	$1,404 – $1,714

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 Columbia County that is typically $1,023 to $1,249 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?

$39,409median income of renter households

$943Median gross rent, all units

29%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 $39,409 can afford about $985 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,136 is $151 (15.3%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $45,440 a year under the 30% rule, or $40,896 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Columbia County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$943 ±$35
Median income of renter households	$39,409 ±$6,312
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	42.0% ±4.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.6% ±3.6
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	6,867

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$758	$943	+24.4%
Median renter household income	$29,519	$39,409	+33.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	43.8%	42.0%	−1.8 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 Columbia County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $90,800 (FY2025: $84,300, +7.7%). 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%)	$19,100 +7.6%	$21,800 +3.1%	$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%)	$31,800 +7.6%	$36,350 +7.7%	$40,900 +7.8%	$45,400 +7.7%	$49,050 +7.7%	$52,700 +7.8%	$56,300 +7.6%	$59,950 +7.7%
Low income (80%)	$50,900 +7.7%	$58,150 +7.7%	$65,400 +7.7%	$72,650 +7.7%	$78,500 +7.8%	$84,300 +7.7%	$90,100 +7.7%	$95,900 +7.7%

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.