Cocke 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).

$9952-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9141-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$62,40080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$61,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Cocke County is $995 a month, up 7.6% from $925 in FY2026. Cocke County belongs to the Cocke County, TN 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 Cocke County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$761	$643	+18.4%	$685 – $837
1 bedroom	$914	$742	+23.2%	$823 – $1,005
2 bedrooms	$995	$925	+7.6%	$896 – $1,094
3 bedrooms	$1,322	$1,209	+9.3%	$1,190 – $1,454
4 bedrooms	$1,406	$1,225	+14.8%	$1,266 – $1,546

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 Cocke County that is typically $896 to $1,094 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?

$31,263median income of renter households

$798Median gross rent, all units

31%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

48%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $31,263 can afford about $782 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $995 is $213 (27.3%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $39,800 a year under the 30% rule, or $35,820 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Cocke County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$798 ±$91
Median income of renter households	$31,263 ±$4,294
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	47.5% ±8.0
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.2% ±5.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	3,193

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$646	$798	+23.5%
Median renter household income	$23,331	$31,263	+34.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	39.1%	47.5%	+8.4 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 Cocke County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $61,300 (FY2025: $58,900, +4.1%). 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%)	$16,400 +4.1%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$48,400 +4.2%	$51,500 +4.1%
Very low income (50%)	$27,300 +4.0%	$31,200 +4.2%	$35,100 +4.0%	$39,000 +4.1%	$42,150 +4.2%	$45,250 +4.1%	$48,400 +4.2%	$51,500 +4.1%
Low income (80%)	$43,700 +4.2%	$49,950 +4.2%	$56,200 +4.2%	$62,400 +4.2%	$67,400 +4.2%	$72,400 +4.2%	$77,400 +4.2%	$82,400 +4.2%

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.