Lawrence County, SD: 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).

$1,2072-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9231-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$77,60080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$97,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Lawrence County is $1,207 a month, up 15.4% from $1,046 in FY2026. Lawrence County belongs to the Lawrence County, SD 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 Lawrence County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$841	$721	+16.6%	$757 – $925
1 bedroom	$923	$797	+15.8%	$831 – $1,015
2 bedrooms	$1,207	$1,046	+15.4%	$1,087 – $1,327
3 bedrooms	$1,671	$1,455	+14.8%	$1,504 – $1,838
4 bedrooms	$2,017	$1,755	+14.9%	$1,816 – $2,218

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 Lawrence County that is typically $1,087 to $1,327 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?

$45,875median income of renter households

$938Median gross rent, all units

25%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

34%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $45,875 can afford about $1,147 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,207 is $60 (5.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $48,280 a year under the 30% rule, or $43,452 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Lawrence County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$938 ±$79
Median income of renter households	$45,875 ±$7,736
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	33.9% ±6.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	17.8% ±4.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	3,789

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$761	$938	+23.3%
Median renter household income	$31,914	$45,875	+43.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	40.4%	33.9%	−6.5 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 Lawrence County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $97,000 (FY2025: $96,100, +0.9%). 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%)	$20,400 +1.0%	$23,300 +0.9%	$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%)	$33,950 +0.9%	$38,800 +0.9%	$43,650 +0.9%	$48,500 +0.9%	$52,400 +1.0%	$56,300 +1.0%	$60,150 +0.9%	$64,050 +0.9%
Low income (80%)	$54,350 +0.9%	$62,100 +0.9%	$69,850 +0.9%	$77,600 +0.9%	$83,850 +0.9%	$90,050 +0.9%	$96,250 +0.9%	$102,450 +0.9%

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.