Roane 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).

$1,0482-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8621-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$75,30080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$94,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Roane County is $1,048 a month, down 4.0% from $1,092 in FY2026. Roane County belongs to the Roane County, 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 Roane County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$857	$912	−6.0%	$772 – $942
1 bedroom	$862	$918	−6.1%	$776 – $948
2 bedrooms	$1,048	$1,092	−4.0%	$944 – $1,152
3 bedrooms	$1,395	$1,432	−2.6%	$1,256 – $1,534
4 bedrooms	$1,649	$1,832	−10.0%	$1,485 – $1,813

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 Roane County that is typically $944 to $1,152 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?

$37,801median income of renter households

$785Median gross rent, all units

25%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 $37,801 can afford about $945 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,048 is $103 (10.9%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $41,920 a year under the 30% rule, or $37,728 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Roane County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$785 ±$36
Median income of renter households	$37,801 ±$5,163
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	40.8% ±7.1
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	16.5% ±5.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	4,440

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$672	$785	+16.8%
Median renter household income	$27,688	$37,801	+36.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	41.4%	40.8%	−0.6 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 $1,000 to $1,400 depending on the ZIP code.

All 10 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
37748	$840	$850	$1,040	$1,380	$1,650
37763	$840	$850	$1,030	$1,370	$1,680
37771	$1,020	$1,020	$1,280	$1,600	$1,840
37774	$1,020	$1,020	$1,280	$1,610	$1,840
37830	$1,120	$1,120	$1,400	$1,770	$2,010
37840	$830	$830	$1,040	$1,380	$1,480
37846	$810	$840	$1,020	$1,310	$1,430
37854	$850	$850	$1,050	$1,400	$1,530
37874	$770	$870	$1,000	$1,290	$1,350
37880	$830	$830	$1,000	$1,290	$1,650

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

HUD income limits for Roane County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $94,100 (FY2025: $90,800, +3.6%). 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%)	$19,800 +3.7%	$22,600 +3.7%	$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%)	$32,950 +3.6%	$37,650 +3.6%	$42,350 +3.5%	$47,050 +3.6%	$50,850 +3.7%	$54,600 +3.6%	$58,350 +3.6%	$62,150 +3.7%
Low income (80%)	$52,750 +3.6%	$60,250 +3.6%	$67,800 +3.7%	$75,300 +3.6%	$81,350 +3.6%	$87,350 +3.6%	$93,400 +3.7%	$99,400 +3.6%

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.