Bradley County, TN: 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).

$1,2702-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9711-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$73,00080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$91,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Bradley County is $1,270 a month, up 3.0% from $1,233 in FY2026. Bradley County belongs to the Cleveland, TN 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 Bradley County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$884	$850	+4.0%	$796 – $972
1 bedroom	$971	$940	+3.3%	$874 – $1,068
2 bedrooms	$1,270	$1,233	+3.0%	$1,143 – $1,397
3 bedrooms	$1,593	$1,584	+0.6%	$1,434 – $1,752
4 bedrooms	$1,669	$1,633	+2.2%	$1,503 – $1,835

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 Bradley County that is typically $1,143 to $1,397 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?

$41,745median income of renter households

$1,030Median gross rent, all units

30%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

45%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $41,745 can afford about $1,044 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,270 is $226 (21.7%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $50,800 a year under the 30% rule, or $45,720 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Bradley County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,030 ±$32
Median income of renter households	$41,745 ±$2,578
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	45.4% ±4.1
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	19.9% ±3.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	12,814

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$777	$1,030	+32.6%
Median renter household income	$32,537	$41,745	+28.3%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	45.2%	45.4%	+0.2 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 $1,110 to $1,380 depending on the ZIP code.

All 21 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
37307	$770	$850	$1,110	$1,430	$1,470
37309	$840	$1,000	$1,110	$1,430	$1,470
37310	$800	$880	$1,150	$1,440	$1,510
37311	$860	$940	$1,230	$1,540	$1,620
37312	$960	$1,050	$1,380	$1,730	$1,810
37316	$770	$850	$1,110	$1,430	$1,470
37317	$770	$850	$1,110	$1,430	$1,470
37320	$910	$990	$1,300	$1,630	$1,710
37323	$860	$940	$1,230	$1,540	$1,620
37325	$780	$910	$1,110	$1,430	$1,470
37326	$770	$850	$1,110	$1,430	$1,470
37331	$800	$960	$1,110	$1,430	$1,470
37333	$770	$850	$1,110	$1,430	$1,520
37336	$920	$970	$1,210	$1,490	$1,610
37353	$930	$1,010	$1,300	$1,630	$1,710
37361	$770	$850	$1,110	$1,430	$1,470
37362	$770	$850	$1,110	$1,430	$1,470
37364	$910	$990	$1,300	$1,630	$1,710
37369	$770	$850	$1,110	$1,430	$1,470
37385	$770	$860	$1,110	$1,430	$1,470
37391	$770	$850	$1,110	$1,430	$1,470

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

HUD income limits for Bradley County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $91,700 (FY2025: $84,700, +8.3%). 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%)	$19,200 +10.0%	$21,950 +3.8%	$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%)	$31,950 +10.0%	$36,500 +9.9%	$41,050 +9.9%	$45,650 +10.0%	$49,250 +9.9%	$52,950 +10.0%	$56,550 +9.9%	$60,250 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$51,100 +9.9%	$58,400 +9.9%	$65,700 +9.9%	$73,000 +9.9%	$78,850 +9.9%	$84,700 +9.9%	$90,550 +10.0%	$96,400 +10.0%

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.