Lawrence 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).

$1,0082-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7711-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$77,200Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Lawrence County is $1,008 a month, up 7.3% from $939 in FY2026. Lawrence County belongs to the Lawrence 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 Lawrence County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$766	$711	+7.7%	$690 – $842
1 bedroom	$771	$716	+7.7%	$694 – $848
2 bedrooms	$1,008	$939	+7.3%	$908 – $1,108
3 bedrooms	$1,201	$1,126	+6.7%	$1,081 – $1,321
4 bedrooms	$1,347	$1,243	+8.4%	$1,213 – $1,481

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 $908 to $1,108 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?

$31,400median income of renter households

$763Median gross rent, all units

29%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

47%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $31,400 can afford about $785 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,008 is $223 (28.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,320 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,288 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)	$763 ±$63
Median income of renter households	$31,400 ±$5,210
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	47.3% ±7.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.3% ±6.3
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	3,097

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$661	$763	+15.4%
Median renter household income	$26,431	$31,400	+18.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	46.8%	47.3%	+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 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 $77,200 (FY2025: $73,300, +5.3%). 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%)	$16,400 +3.1%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$48,400 +3.2%	$51,500 +3.2%
Very low income (50%)	$27,300 +3.0%	$31,200 +3.1%	$35,100 +3.1%	$39,000 +3.2%	$42,150 +3.2%	$45,250 +3.2%	$48,400 +3.2%	$51,500 +3.2%
Low income (80%)	$43,700 +3.2%	$49,950 +3.2%	$56,200 +3.2%	$62,400 +3.1%	$67,400 +3.1%	$72,400 +3.1%	$77,400 +3.1%	$82,400 +3.1%

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.