Jefferson 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).

$1,0142-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8071-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$68,95080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$77,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Jefferson County is $1,014 a month, up 4.2% from $973 in FY2026. Jefferson County belongs to the Jefferson 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 Jefferson County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$706	$671	+5.2%	$636 – $776
1 bedroom	$807	$768	+5.1%	$727 – $887
2 bedrooms	$1,014	$973	+4.2%	$913 – $1,115
3 bedrooms	$1,301	$1,197	+8.7%	$1,171 – $1,431
4 bedrooms	$1,438	$1,379	+4.3%	$1,295 – $1,581

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 $913 to $1,115 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?

$36,390median income of renter households

$750Median gross rent, all units

25%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 $36,390 can afford about $910 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,014 is $104 (11.5%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,560 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,504 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)	$750 ±$39
Median income of renter households	$36,390 ±$2,209
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	43.9% ±4.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	19.6% ±3.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	3,944

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$669	$750	+12.1%
Median renter household income	$25,468	$36,390	+42.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	44.4%	43.9%	−0.5 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 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 $77,600 (FY2025: $76,400, +1.6%). 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%)	$18,100 +2.8%	$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%)	$30,200 +3.1%	$34,500 +3.0%	$38,800 +2.9%	$43,100 +3.0%	$46,550 +3.0%	$50,000 +3.0%	$53,450 +3.0%	$56,900 +3.0%
Low income (80%)	$48,300 +3.0%	$55,200 +3.0%	$62,100 +3.0%	$68,950 +3.0%	$74,500 +3.0%	$80,000 +3.0%	$85,500 +3.0%	$91,050 +3.0%

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.