Jefferson 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).

$1,1532-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9121-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$64,10080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$80,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Jefferson County is $1,153 a month, up 1.6% from $1,135 in FY2026. Jefferson County belongs to the Morristown, TN HUD Metro FMR Area 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 Jefferson County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$906	$881	+2.8%	$816 – $996
1 bedroom	$912	$887	+2.8%	$821 – $1,003
2 bedrooms	$1,153	$1,135	+1.6%	$1,038 – $1,268
3 bedrooms	$1,405	$1,444	−2.7%	$1,265 – $1,545
4 bedrooms	$1,838	$1,827	+0.6%	$1,655 – $2,021

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 $1,038 to $1,268 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?

$44,453median income of renter households

$904Median gross rent, all units

24%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

41%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $44,453 can afford about $1,111 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,153 is $42 (3.8%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $46,120 a year under the 30% rule, or $41,508 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)	$904 ±$45
Median income of renter households	$44,453 ±$6,735
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	40.7% ±7.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	16.9% ±5.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	4,577

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$681	$904	+32.7%
Median renter household income	$33,578	$44,453	+32.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	42.9%	40.7%	−2.2 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 $1,030 to $1,320 depending on the ZIP code.

All 16 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
37711	$800	$800	$1,030	$1,300	$1,650
37725	$930	$930	$1,180	$1,440	$1,880
37760	$900	$910	$1,150	$1,400	$1,830
37764	$1,120	$1,120	$1,320	$1,700	$1,750
37813	$900	$900	$1,140	$1,390	$1,820
37814	$910	$920	$1,160	$1,410	$1,850
37815	$900	$900	$1,140	$1,390	$1,820
37816	$900	$900	$1,140	$1,390	$1,820
37820	$900	$900	$1,140	$1,390	$1,820
37821	$800	$920	$1,030	$1,330	$1,650
37860	$800	$800	$1,030	$1,300	$1,650
37871	$840	$850	$1,050	$1,310	$1,580
37876	$1,020	$1,030	$1,200	$1,550	$1,650
37877	$1,010	$1,020	$1,290	$1,570	$2,060
37890	$900	$900	$1,140	$1,390	$1,820
37891	$800	$800	$1,030	$1,300	$1,650

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

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 $80,100 (FY2025: $75,200, +6.5%). 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%)	$16,850 +6.0%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$49,700 +6.0%	$52,900 +6.0%
Very low income (50%)	$28,050 +5.8%	$32,050 +6.0%	$36,050 +5.9%	$40,050 +6.0%	$43,300 +6.0%	$46,500 +6.0%	$49,700 +6.0%	$52,900 +6.0%
Low income (80%)	$44,900 +6.0%	$51,300 +6.0%	$57,700 +6.0%	$64,100 +6.0%	$69,250 +6.0%	$74,400 +6.0%	$79,500 +5.9%	$84,650 +5.9%

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.