Callahan County, TX: 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).

$1,3102-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0471-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$73,70080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$92,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Callahan County is $1,310 a month, up 2.7% from $1,276 in FY2026. Callahan County belongs to the Abilene, TX 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 Callahan County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$958	$1,010	−5.1%	$863 – $1,053
1 bedroom	$1,047	$1,020	+2.6%	$943 – $1,151
2 bedrooms	$1,310	$1,276	+2.7%	$1,179 – $1,441
3 bedrooms	$1,702	$1,653	+3.0%	$1,532 – $1,872
4 bedrooms	$2,013	$1,987	+1.3%	$1,812 – $2,214

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 Callahan County that is typically $1,179 to $1,441 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?

$37,391median income of renter households

$817Median gross rent, all units

26%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 $37,391 can afford about $935 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,310 is $375 (40.1%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $52,400 a year under the 30% rule, or $47,160 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Callahan County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$817 ±$163
Median income of renter households	$37,391 ±$16,793
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	49.1% ±9.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	14.8% ±7.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	798

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$759	$817	+7.6%
Median renter household income	$31,984	$37,391	+16.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	25.1%	49.1%	+24.0 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 $1,150 to $1,970 depending on the ZIP code.

All 33 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
76437	$910	$920	$1,150	$1,490	$1,790
76443	$910	$920	$1,150	$1,490	$1,790
76464	$910	$920	$1,150	$1,490	$1,790
76469	$910	$920	$1,150	$1,490	$1,790
79501	$910	$920	$1,150	$1,490	$1,790
79503	$910	$920	$1,150	$1,510	$1,790
79504	$910	$920	$1,150	$1,490	$1,790
79508	$970	$1,050	$1,320	$1,710	$2,030
79510	$910	$920	$1,150	$1,490	$1,790
79519	$910	$920	$1,150	$1,490	$1,790
79520	$910	$920	$1,150	$1,490	$1,790
79521	$910	$920	$1,150	$1,490	$1,790
79525	$910	$950	$1,180	$1,540	$1,830
79530	$910	$940	$1,180	$1,530	$1,810
79533	$910	$920	$1,150	$1,490	$1,790
79536	$1,100	$1,200	$1,500	$1,950	$2,310
79541	$1,010	$1,090	$1,370	$1,750	$2,080
79553	$910	$1,000	$1,250	$1,620	$1,920
79560	$910	$920	$1,150	$1,490	$1,790
79561	$910	$920	$1,150	$1,490	$1,790
79562	$1,440	$1,570	$1,970	$2,560	$3,030
79563	$910	$920	$1,150	$1,490	$1,790
79566	$940	$990	$1,260	$1,590	$1,870
79567	$910	$920	$1,150	$1,490	$1,790
79601	$910	$940	$1,180	$1,540	$1,820
79602	$970	$1,050	$1,320	$1,710	$2,030
79603	$910	$1,000	$1,250	$1,620	$1,920
79604	$970	$1,060	$1,330	$1,730	$2,040
79605	$980	$1,030	$1,290	$1,680	$1,980
79606	$1,000	$1,090	$1,370	$1,780	$2,110
79607	$1,170	$1,280	$1,600	$2,080	$2,460
79608	$970	$1,060	$1,330	$1,730	$2,040
79699	$910	$940	$1,180	$1,540	$1,820

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

HUD income limits for Callahan County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $92,100 (FY2025: $87,300, +5.5%). 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%)	$19,400 +5.7%	$22,150 +4.7%	$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%)	$32,250 +5.4%	$36,850 +5.4%	$41,450 +5.5%	$46,050 +5.5%	$49,750 +5.5%	$53,450 +5.5%	$57,150 +5.5%	$60,800 +5.5%
Low income (80%)	$51,600 +5.5%	$59,000 +5.5%	$66,350 +5.5%	$73,700 +5.5%	$79,600 +5.5%	$85,500 +5.5%	$91,400 +5.5%	$97,300 +5.5%

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.