Hardin 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).

$1,2182-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9861-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$70,15080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$87,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Hardin County is $1,218 a month, up 10.4% from $1,103 in FY2026. Hardin County belongs to the Beaumont-Port Arthur, 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 Hardin County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$980	$892	+9.9%	$882 – $1,078
1 bedroom	$986	$898	+9.8%	$888 – $1,084
2 bedrooms	$1,218	$1,103	+10.4%	$1,097 – $1,339
3 bedrooms	$1,588	$1,446	+9.8%	$1,430 – $1,746
4 bedrooms	$1,944	$1,732	+12.2%	$1,750 – $2,138

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 Hardin County that is typically $1,097 to $1,339 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?

$47,450median income of renter households

$1,049Median gross rent, all units

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

46%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $47,450 can afford about $1,186 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,218 is $32 (2.7%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $48,720 a year under the 30% rule, or $43,848 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Hardin County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,049 ±$52
Median income of renter households	$47,450 ±$3,979
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	45.9% ±7.9
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	22.7% ±7.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	3,371

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$808	$1,049	+29.8%
Median renter household income	$32,611	$47,450	+45.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	44.9%	45.9%	+1.0 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 $1,010 to $1,540 depending on the ZIP code.

All 43 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
77369	$930	$940	$1,140	$1,510	$1,860
77374	$920	$920	$1,140	$1,490	$1,820
77376	$920	$930	$1,160	$1,480	$1,810
77519	$920	$920	$1,140	$1,490	$1,820
77564	$880	$900	$1,070	$1,430	$1,780
77585	$920	$920	$1,140	$1,490	$1,820
77611	$1,240	$1,250	$1,540	$2,010	$2,460
77613	$880	$890	$1,100	$1,430	$1,760
77619	$1,130	$1,140	$1,410	$1,840	$2,250
77622	$950	$960	$1,170	$1,550	$1,910
77625	$900	$910	$1,120	$1,460	$1,790
77627	$1,200	$1,210	$1,490	$1,940	$2,380
77629	$950	$960	$1,180	$1,550	$1,900
77630	$980	$990	$1,220	$1,590	$1,950
77631	$950	$960	$1,180	$1,540	$1,880
77632	$940	$950	$1,180	$1,540	$1,880
77639	$950	$960	$1,180	$1,540	$1,880
77640	$1,090	$1,090	$1,350	$1,760	$2,150
77641	$1,000	$1,000	$1,240	$1,620	$1,980
77642	$930	$930	$1,150	$1,500	$1,840
77643	$1,000	$1,000	$1,240	$1,620	$1,980
77651	$970	$980	$1,210	$1,580	$1,930
77655	$1,090	$1,090	$1,350	$1,760	$2,150
77656	$880	$890	$1,100	$1,430	$1,750
77657	$930	$940	$1,160	$1,510	$1,850
77659	$1,130	$1,140	$1,410	$1,840	$2,250
77662	$810	$820	$1,010	$1,330	$1,630
77663	$900	$910	$1,120	$1,460	$1,790
77664	$900	$910	$1,150	$1,430	$1,740
77665	$1,070	$1,090	$1,310	$1,750	$2,170
77670	$950	$960	$1,180	$1,540	$1,880
77701	$870	$870	$1,080	$1,410	$1,720
77702	$980	$990	$1,220	$1,590	$1,950
77703	$860	$870	$1,070	$1,390	$1,710
77704	$1,000	$1,000	$1,240	$1,620	$1,980
77705	$830	$830	$1,030	$1,340	$1,640
77706	$1,070	$1,080	$1,330	$1,730	$2,120
77707	$1,130	$1,140	$1,410	$1,840	$2,250
77708	$990	$1,000	$1,230	$1,600	$1,960
77713	$1,240	$1,250	$1,540	$2,010	$2,460
77720	$1,000	$1,000	$1,240	$1,620	$1,980
77725	$1,000	$1,000	$1,240	$1,620	$1,980
77726	$1,000	$1,000	$1,240	$1,620	$1,980

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

HUD income limits for Hardin County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $87,700 (FY2025: $84,400, +3.9%). 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%)	$18,450 +3.9%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$30,700 +3.9%	$35,100 +3.8%	$39,500 +3.9%	$43,850 +3.9%	$47,400 +3.9%	$50,900 +3.9%	$54,400 +3.9%	$57,900 +3.9%
Low income (80%)	$49,150 +4.0%	$56,150 +4.0%	$63,150 +4.0%	$70,150 +3.9%	$75,800 +4.0%	$81,400 +4.0%	$87,000 +3.9%	$92,600 +3.9%

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.