Lavaca 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).

$1,0862-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9131-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$73,20080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$91,500Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Lavaca County is $1,086 a month, up 2.9% from $1,055 in FY2026. Lavaca County belongs to the Lavaca 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 Lavaca County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$825	$820	+0.6%	$743 – $907
1 bedroom	$913	$886	+3.0%	$822 – $1,004
2 bedrooms	$1,086	$1,055	+2.9%	$978 – $1,194
3 bedrooms	$1,294	$1,265	+2.3%	$1,165 – $1,423
4 bedrooms	$1,815	$1,770	+2.5%	$1,634 – $1,996

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 Lavaca County that is typically $978 to $1,194 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?

$42,474median income of renter households

$910Median gross rent, all units

26%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

42%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $42,474 can afford about $1,062 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,086 is $24 (2.3%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $43,440 a year under the 30% rule, or $39,096 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Lavaca County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$910 ±$57
Median income of renter households	$42,474 ±$8,293
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	41.8% ±10.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	16.6% ±6.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,431

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$752	$910	+21.0%
Median renter household income	$40,277	$42,474	+5.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	27.2%	41.8%	+14.6 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 Lavaca County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $91,500 (FY2025: $93,700, −2.3%). 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%)	$19,250 −2.3%	$22,000 −2.2%	$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%)	$32,050 −2.3%	$36,600 −2.4%	$41,200 −2.4%	$45,750 −2.3%	$49,450 −2.3%	$53,100 −2.3%	$56,750 −2.3%	$60,400 −2.3%
Low income (80%)	$51,250 −2.4%	$58,600 −2.3%	$65,900 −2.4%	$73,200 −2.3%	$79,100 −2.3%	$84,950 −2.3%	$90,800 −2.3%	$96,650 −2.3%

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.