Ector 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).

$1,5222-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,2291-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$74,40080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$91,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Ector County is $1,522 a month, down 4.6% from $1,595 in FY2026. Ector County belongs to the Odessa, 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 Ector County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,153	$1,245	−7.4%	$1,038 – $1,268
1 bedroom	$1,229	$1,269	−3.2%	$1,107 – $1,351
2 bedrooms	$1,522	$1,595	−4.6%	$1,370 – $1,674
3 bedrooms	$1,813	$1,912	−5.2%	$1,632 – $1,994
4 bedrooms	$2,083	$2,213	−5.9%	$1,875 – $2,291

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 Ector County that is typically $1,370 to $1,674 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?

$51,709median income of renter households

$1,259Median gross rent, all units

29%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

52%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $51,709 can afford about $1,293 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,522 is $229 (17.7%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $60,880 a year under the 30% rule, or $54,792 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Ector County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,259 ±$48
Median income of renter households	$51,709 ±$2,924
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	52.3% ±4.9
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	26.4% ±4.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	20,339

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,059	$1,259	+18.9%
Median renter household income	$47,858	$51,709	+8.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	39.7%	52.3%	+12.6 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 $1,440 to $1,800 depending on the ZIP code.

All 14 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
79707	$1,340	$1,410	$1,800	$2,230	$2,410
79741	$1,150	$1,230	$1,520	$1,810	$2,080
79758	$1,290	$1,350	$1,680	$2,060	$2,410
79759	$1,150	$1,230	$1,520	$1,810	$2,080
79760	$1,150	$1,230	$1,520	$1,810	$2,080
79761	$1,130	$1,190	$1,470	$1,750	$2,010
79762	$1,210	$1,290	$1,600	$1,910	$2,190
79763	$1,130	$1,150	$1,440	$1,730	$2,000
79764	$1,130	$1,150	$1,440	$1,730	$2,000
79765	$1,360	$1,450	$1,800	$2,170	$2,450
79766	$1,290	$1,310	$1,610	$2,060	$2,410
79768	$1,150	$1,230	$1,520	$1,810	$2,080
79769	$1,150	$1,230	$1,520	$1,810	$2,080
79776	$1,150	$1,230	$1,520	$1,810	$2,080

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

HUD income limits for Ector County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $91,100 (FY2025: $90,700, +0.4%). 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%)	$19,550 −1.3%	$22,350 −1.1%	$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%)	$32,550 −1.1%	$37,200 −1.2%	$41,850 −1.2%	$46,500 −1.2%	$50,250 −1.1%	$53,950 −1.2%	$57,700 −1.1%	$61,400 −1.2%
Low income (80%)	$52,100 −1.2%	$59,550 −1.2%	$67,000 −1.2%	$74,400 −1.2%	$80,400 −1.2%	$86,350 −1.1%	$92,300 −1.2%	$98,250 −1.2%

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.