Hidalgo 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).

$1,0172-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8061-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$64,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Hidalgo County is $1,017 a month, down 4.1% from $1,060 in FY2026. Hidalgo County belongs to the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, 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 Hidalgo County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$801	$842	−4.9%	$721 – $881
1 bedroom	$806	$847	−4.8%	$726 – $886
2 bedrooms	$1,017	$1,060	−4.1%	$916 – $1,118
3 bedrooms	$1,305	$1,376	−5.2%	$1,175 – $1,435
4 bedrooms	$1,439	$1,522	−5.5%	$1,296 – $1,582

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 Hidalgo County that is typically $916 to $1,118 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?

$36,139median income of renter households

$957Median gross rent, all units

32%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 $36,139 can afford about $903 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,017 is $114 (12.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,680 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,612 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Hidalgo County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$957 ±$14
Median income of renter households	$36,139 ±$1,434
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	48.7% ±2.1
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	27.2% ±1.6
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	78,530

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$734	$957	+30.4%
Median renter household income	$26,366	$36,139	+37.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	52.5%	48.7%	−3.8 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.

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 $1,260 depending on the ZIP code.

All 33 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
78501	$870	$870	$1,100	$1,410	$1,560
78502	$800	$810	$1,020	$1,310	$1,440
78503	$930	$940	$1,180	$1,510	$1,670
78504	$990	$1,000	$1,260	$1,620	$1,780
78505	$800	$810	$1,020	$1,310	$1,440
78516	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78537	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78538	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78539	$880	$890	$1,120	$1,440	$1,580
78540	$800	$800	$1,020	$1,340	$1,450
78541	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78542	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78543	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78549	$800	$800	$1,020	$1,340	$1,450
78557	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78558	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78559	$900	$970	$1,140	$1,520	$1,640
78560	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78562	$790	$810	$1,010	$1,350	$1,460
78563	$800	$810	$1,020	$1,310	$1,440
78565	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78569	$770	$780	$1,010	$1,400	$1,470
78570	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78572	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78573	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78574	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78576	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78577	$850	$860	$1,080	$1,390	$1,530
78579	$800	$810	$1,020	$1,310	$1,440
78589	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78595	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78596	$800	$810	$1,020	$1,310	$1,440
78599	$840	$850	$1,070	$1,370	$1,510

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

HUD income limits for Hidalgo County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $64,000 (FY2025: $63,300, +1.1%). 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.