El Paso 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).

$1,1462-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9691-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$73,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in El Paso County is $1,146 a month, down 3.8% from $1,191 in FY2026. El Paso County belongs to the El Paso, TX HUD Metro FMR Area 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 El Paso County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$798	$821	−2.8%	$719 – $877
1 bedroom	$969	$1,013	−4.3%	$873 – $1,065
2 bedrooms	$1,146	$1,191	−3.8%	$1,032 – $1,260
3 bedrooms	$1,559	$1,633	−4.5%	$1,404 – $1,714
4 bedrooms	$1,915	$1,998	−4.2%	$1,724 – $2,106

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 El Paso County that is typically $1,032 to $1,260 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?

$39,575median income of renter households

$1,079Median gross rent, all units

33%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

54%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $39,575 can afford about $989 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,146 is $157 (15.8%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $45,840 a year under the 30% rule, or $41,256 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

El Paso County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,079 ±$15
Median income of renter households	$39,575 ±$1,747
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	53.6% ±1.9
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	25.5% ±1.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	99,736

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$838	$1,079	+28.8%
Median renter household income	$31,647	$39,575	+25.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	49.4%	53.6%	+4.2 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 $1,080 to $1,720 depending on the ZIP code.

All 60 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
79821	$810	$980	$1,160	$1,580	$1,940
79835	$740	$920	$1,080	$1,470	$1,800
79836	$750	$920	$1,080	$1,470	$1,810
79838	$740	$920	$1,080	$1,470	$1,800
79849	$740	$920	$1,080	$1,470	$1,800
79853	$740	$920	$1,080	$1,470	$1,800
79901	$740	$920	$1,080	$1,470	$1,800
79902	$740	$920	$1,080	$1,470	$1,800
79903	$740	$920	$1,080	$1,470	$1,800
79904	$760	$920	$1,090	$1,480	$1,820
79905	$740	$920	$1,080	$1,470	$1,800
79906	$1,100	$1,340	$1,580	$2,150	$2,640
79907	$740	$920	$1,080	$1,470	$1,800
79908	$1,200	$1,450	$1,720	$2,340	$2,870
79910	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79911	$1,080	$1,310	$1,550	$2,110	$2,590
79912	$960	$1,170	$1,380	$1,880	$2,310
79913	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79914	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79915	$740	$920	$1,080	$1,470	$1,800
79916	$990	$1,200	$1,420	$1,930	$2,370
79917	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79918	$1,160	$1,410	$1,670	$2,270	$2,780
79920	$740	$920	$1,080	$1,470	$1,800
79922	$970	$1,190	$1,400	$1,920	$2,340
79923	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79924	$810	$980	$1,160	$1,580	$1,940
79925	$780	$950	$1,120	$1,520	$1,870
79926	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79927	$790	$960	$1,130	$1,540	$1,890
79928	$850	$1,030	$1,220	$1,660	$2,040
79929	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79930	$740	$920	$1,080	$1,470	$1,800
79931	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79932	$790	$960	$1,140	$1,550	$1,910
79934	$1,040	$1,260	$1,490	$2,030	$2,490
79935	$840	$1,010	$1,200	$1,630	$2,010
79936	$950	$1,150	$1,360	$1,850	$2,270
79937	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79938	$1,040	$1,260	$1,490	$2,030	$2,490
79940	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79941	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79942	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79943	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79944	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79945	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79946	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79947	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79948	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79949	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79950	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79951	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79952	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79953	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79954	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79955	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79968	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79995	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79996	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920
79997	$800	$970	$1,150	$1,560	$1,920

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

HUD income limits for El Paso County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $73,400 (FY2025: $72,800, +0.8%). 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.