Sevier 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).

$1,2132-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0381-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$68,00080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$85,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Sevier County is $1,213 a month, up 4.7% from $1,159 in FY2026. Sevier County belongs to the Sevier 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 Sevier County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,032	$883	+16.9%	$929 – $1,135
1 bedroom	$1,038	$973	+6.7%	$935 – $1,141
2 bedrooms	$1,213	$1,159	+4.7%	$1,092 – $1,334
3 bedrooms	$1,569	$1,522	+3.1%	$1,413 – $1,725
4 bedrooms	$1,594	$1,535	+3.8%	$1,435 – $1,753

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 Sevier County that is typically $1,092 to $1,334 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?

$47,392median income of renter households

$1,072Median gross rent, all units

27%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 $47,392 can afford about $1,185 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,213 is $28 (2.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $48,520 a year under the 30% rule, or $43,668 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Sevier County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,072 ±$38
Median income of renter households	$47,392 ±$4,904
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	40.5% ±3.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	17.3% ±3.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	10,461

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$791	$1,072	+35.5%
Median renter household income	$36,331	$47,392	+30.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	44.9%	40.5%	−4.4 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 Sevier County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $85,000 (FY2025: $80,000, +6.3%). 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%)	$17,850 +6.3%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +5.5%
Very low income (50%)	$29,750 +6.3%	$34,000 +6.3%	$38,250 +6.3%	$42,500 +6.3%	$45,900 +6.3%	$49,300 +6.3%	$52,700 +6.3%	$56,100 +6.3%
Low income (80%)	$47,600 +6.3%	$54,400 +6.3%	$61,200 +6.3%	$68,000 +6.3%	$73,450 +6.2%	$78,900 +6.3%	$84,350 +6.2%	$89,800 +6.3%

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.