Karnes 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).

$1,1432-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8721-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$68,80080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$86,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Karnes County is $1,143 a month, down 10.0% from $1,270 in FY2026. Karnes County belongs to the Karnes 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 Karnes County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$819	$876	−6.5%	$738 – $900
1 bedroom	$872	$968	−9.9%	$785 – $959
2 bedrooms	$1,143	$1,270	−10.0%	$1,029 – $1,257
3 bedrooms	$1,393	$1,523	−8.5%	$1,254 – $1,532
4 bedrooms	$1,683	$1,869	−10.0%	$1,515 – $1,851

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 Karnes County that is typically $1,029 to $1,257 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?

$31,771median income of renter households (low reliability)

$957Median gross rent, all units

36%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

41%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $31,771 can afford about $794 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,143 is $349 (43.9%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $45,720 a year under the 30% rule, or $41,148 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Karnes County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$957 ±$223
Median income of renter households	$31,771 ±$16,117
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	41.3% ±13.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	23.4% ±10.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,637

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$807	$957	+18.6%
Median renter household income	$42,708	$31,771	−25.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	27.7%	41.3%	+13.6 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.

HUD income limits for Karnes County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $86,000 (FY2025: $77,700, +10.7%). 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%)	$18,100 +8.4%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +6.2%
Very low income (50%)	$30,100 +8.3%	$34,400 +8.2%	$38,700 +8.3%	$43,000 +8.3%	$46,450 +8.3%	$49,900 +8.2%	$53,350 +8.3%	$56,800 +8.3%
Low income (80%)	$48,200 +8.4%	$55,050 +8.4%	$61,950 +8.4%	$68,800 +8.3%	$74,350 +8.4%	$79,850 +8.3%	$85,350 +8.4%	$90,850 +8.3%

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.