Deaf Smith 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).

$1,1122-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8851-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$66,95080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$66,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Deaf Smith County is $1,112 a month, up 3.9% from $1,070 in FY2026. Deaf Smith County belongs to the Deaf Smith County, TX 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 Deaf Smith County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$779	$738	+5.6%	$702 – $856
1 bedroom	$885	$855	+3.5%	$797 – $973
2 bedrooms	$1,112	$1,070	+3.9%	$1,001 – $1,223
3 bedrooms	$1,369	$1,283	+6.7%	$1,233 – $1,505
4 bedrooms	$1,618	$1,604	+0.9%	$1,457 – $1,779

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 Deaf Smith County that is typically $1,001 to $1,223 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?

$52,150median income of renter households

$926Median gross rent, all units

21%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

35%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $52,150 can afford about $1,304 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,112 is $192 (14.7%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $44,480 a year under the 30% rule, or $40,032 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Deaf Smith County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$926 ±$70
Median income of renter households	$52,150 ±$5,638
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	35.2% ±9.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	19.7% ±7.5
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,877

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$788	$926	+17.5%
Median renter household income	$44,878	$52,150	+16.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	27.4%	35.2%	+7.8 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 Deaf Smith County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $66,700 (FY2025: $60,900, +9.5%). 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%)	$17,600 +5.4%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,250 +5.3%
Very low income (50%)	$29,300 +5.4%	$33,500 +5.3%	$37,700 +5.5%	$41,850 +5.4%	$45,200 +5.4%	$48,550 +5.3%	$51,900 +5.4%	$55,250 +5.3%
Low income (80%)	$46,900 +5.5%	$53,600 +5.5%	$60,300 +5.5%	$66,950 +5.4%	$72,350 +5.5%	$77,700 +5.4%	$83,050 +5.5%	$88,400 +5.4%

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.