Unicoi 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).

$1,2112-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9481-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$64,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$76,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Unicoi County is $1,211 a month, up 7.0% from $1,132 in FY2026. Unicoi County belongs to the Johnson City, TN MSA 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 Unicoi County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$942	$887	+6.2%	$848 – $1,036
1 bedroom	$948	$893	+6.2%	$854 – $1,042
2 bedrooms	$1,211	$1,132	+7.0%	$1,090 – $1,332
3 bedrooms	$1,461	$1,398	+4.5%	$1,315 – $1,607
4 bedrooms	$1,609	$1,548	+3.9%	$1,449 – $1,769

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 Unicoi County that is typically $1,090 to $1,332 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?

$33,769median income of renter households

$750Median gross rent, all units

27%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

49%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $33,769 can afford about $844 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,211 is $367 (43.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $48,440 a year under the 30% rule, or $43,596 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Unicoi County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$750 ±$197
Median income of renter households	$33,769 ±$12,904
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	49.3% ±9.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	19.2% ±8.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,699

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$630	$750	+19.0%
Median renter household income	$25,985	$33,769	+30.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	44.4%	49.3%	+4.9 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 $1,020 to $1,390 depending on the ZIP code.

All 26 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
37601	$950	$960	$1,220	$1,470	$1,620
37602	$1,000	$1,000	$1,280	$1,540	$1,700
37604	$1,070	$1,070	$1,370	$1,650	$1,820
37605	$1,000	$1,000	$1,280	$1,540	$1,700
37614	$1,070	$1,070	$1,370	$1,650	$1,820
37615	$1,010	$1,020	$1,300	$1,570	$1,730
37640	$800	$880	$1,020	$1,300	$1,400
37641	$800	$810	$1,020	$1,260	$1,400
37643	$800	$810	$1,030	$1,260	$1,400
37644	$800	$810	$1,020	$1,260	$1,400
37650	$800	$810	$1,020	$1,260	$1,400
37656	$860	$880	$1,130	$1,370	$1,500
37657	$860	$940	$1,110	$1,330	$1,660
37658	$800	$810	$1,020	$1,260	$1,400
37659	$1,070	$1,080	$1,380	$1,660	$1,830
37663	$800	$880	$1,140	$1,440	$1,530
37681	$810	$840	$1,070	$1,320	$1,440
37682	$950	$960	$1,220	$1,470	$1,620
37683	$800	$930	$1,020	$1,350	$1,400
37684	$1,000	$1,000	$1,280	$1,540	$1,700
37686	$970	$1,080	$1,390	$1,750	$1,870
37687	$800	$830	$1,050	$1,300	$1,430
37688	$800	$870	$1,040	$1,340	$1,410
37690	$950	$970	$1,240	$1,510	$1,660
37692	$880	$880	$1,130	$1,360	$1,500
37694	$800	$810	$1,020	$1,260	$1,400

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

HUD income limits for Unicoi County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $76,800 (FY2025: $84,800, −9.4%). 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%)	$16,950 −5.0%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,000 +2.8%	$53,200 −1.8%
Very low income (50%)	$28,250 −4.9%	$32,300 −4.9%	$36,300 −5.0%	$40,300 −5.0%	$43,550 −4.9%	$46,750 −5.0%	$50,000 −4.9%	$53,200 −5.0%
Low income (80%)	$45,150 −4.9%	$51,600 −5.0%	$58,050 −5.0%	$64,500 −4.9%	$69,700 −4.9%	$74,850 −5.0%	$80,000 −4.9%	$85,150 −5.0%

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.