Matagorda 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).

$1,2262-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0271-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$74,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Matagorda County is $1,226 a month, up 4.5% from $1,173 in FY2026. Matagorda County belongs to the Matagorda 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 Matagorda County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,021	$912	+12.0%	$919 – $1,123
1 bedroom	$1,027	$960	+7.0%	$925 – $1,129
2 bedrooms	$1,226	$1,173	+4.5%	$1,104 – $1,348
3 bedrooms	$1,569	$1,498	+4.7%	$1,413 – $1,725
4 bedrooms	$1,968	$1,911	+3.0%	$1,772 – $2,164

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 Matagorda County that is typically $1,104 to $1,348 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?

$36,538median income of renter households

$999Median gross rent, all units

33%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

50%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $36,538 can afford about $913 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,226 is $313 (34.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $49,040 a year under the 30% rule, or $44,136 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Matagorda County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$999 ±$55
Median income of renter households	$36,538 ±$6,417
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	49.7% ±8.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	32.5% ±7.3
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	4,498

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$851	$999	+17.4%
Median renter household income	$43,238	$36,538	−15.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	41.2%	49.7%	+8.5 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 Matagorda County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $74,100 (FY2025: $76,600, −3.3%). 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%)	$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.