Howard 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).

$1,2172-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9541-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$72,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$90,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Howard County is $1,217 a month, up 3.8% from $1,173 in FY2026. Howard County belongs to the Howard 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 Howard County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$948	$918	+3.3%	$854 – $1,042
1 bedroom	$954	$924	+3.2%	$859 – $1,049
2 bedrooms	$1,217	$1,173	+3.8%	$1,096 – $1,338
3 bedrooms	$1,492	$1,406	+6.1%	$1,343 – $1,641
4 bedrooms	$1,812	$1,726	+5.0%	$1,631 – $1,993

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 Howard County that is typically $1,096 to $1,338 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?

$43,532median income of renter households

$1,034Median gross rent, all units

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

51%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $43,532 can afford about $1,088 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,217 is $129 (11.8%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $48,680 a year under the 30% rule, or $43,812 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Howard County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,034 ±$85
Median income of renter households	$43,532 ±$5,078
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	50.8% ±7.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	19.8% ±5.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	3,249

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$868	$1,034	+19.1%
Median renter household income	$37,691	$43,532	+15.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	41.3%	50.8%	+9.5 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 Howard County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $90,600 (FY2025: $93,100, −2.7%). 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%)	$19,050 +0.5%	$21,800 +0.7%	$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%)	$31,750 +0.8%	$36,250 +0.7%	$40,800 +0.7%	$45,300 +0.6%	$48,950 +0.6%	$52,550 +0.6%	$56,200 +0.6%	$59,800 +0.6%
Low income (80%)	$50,750 +0.6%	$58,000 +0.6%	$65,250 +0.6%	$72,500 +0.6%	$78,300 +0.6%	$84,100 +0.6%	$89,900 +0.6%	$95,700 +0.6%

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.