Nueces 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).

$1,4212-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,1761-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$83,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Nueces County is $1,421 a month, up 4.0% from $1,366 in FY2026. Nueces County belongs to the Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area 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 Nueces County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,066	$1,031	+3.4%	$960 – $1,172
1 bedroom	$1,176	$1,117	+5.3%	$1,059 – $1,293
2 bedrooms	$1,421	$1,366	+4.0%	$1,279 – $1,563
3 bedrooms	$1,855	$1,796	+3.3%	$1,670 – $2,040
4 bedrooms	$2,087	$2,054	+1.6%	$1,879 – $2,295

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 Nueces County that is typically $1,279 to $1,563 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?

$49,664median income of renter households

$1,283Median gross rent, all units

31%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

52%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $49,664 can afford about $1,242 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,421 is $179 (14.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $56,840 a year under the 30% rule, or $51,156 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Nueces County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,283 ±$28
Median income of renter households	$49,664 ±$2,928
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	52.4% ±2.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	25.1% ±2.3
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	49,642

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,017	$1,283	+26.2%
Median renter household income	$39,470	$49,664	+25.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	47.4%	52.4%	+5.0 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 $1,230 to $2,130 depending on the ZIP code.

All 48 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
78330	$930	$1,010	$1,230	$1,620	$1,850
78335	$1,100	$1,220	$1,470	$1,920	$2,160
78336	$1,060	$1,150	$1,420	$1,890	$2,090
78339	$930	$1,030	$1,240	$1,620	$1,850
78343	$930	$1,010	$1,230	$1,620	$1,850
78347	$1,070	$1,180	$1,420	$1,850	$2,090
78351	$930	$1,020	$1,230	$1,620	$1,850
78352	$930	$1,010	$1,230	$1,620	$1,850
78359	$930	$1,010	$1,230	$1,620	$1,850
78362	$1,080	$1,190	$1,440	$1,880	$2,110
78363	$930	$1,070	$1,310	$1,620	$1,890
78368	$930	$1,010	$1,230	$1,620	$1,850
78370	$1,000	$1,100	$1,330	$1,740	$1,950
78373	$1,600	$1,760	$2,130	$2,780	$3,130
78374	$1,330	$1,470	$1,770	$2,310	$2,600
78380	$930	$1,030	$1,240	$1,620	$1,850
78383	$930	$1,010	$1,230	$1,620	$1,850
78387	$930	$1,010	$1,230	$1,620	$1,850
78390	$1,080	$1,190	$1,440	$1,890	$2,120
78401	$930	$1,010	$1,230	$1,620	$1,850
78402	$1,080	$1,200	$1,440	$1,890	$2,120
78403	$1,070	$1,180	$1,420	$1,850	$2,090
78404	$1,020	$1,130	$1,360	$1,780	$2,000
78405	$930	$1,010	$1,230	$1,620	$1,850
78406	$1,420	$1,560	$1,890	$2,470	$2,780
78407	$930	$1,010	$1,230	$1,620	$1,850
78408	$930	$1,010	$1,230	$1,620	$1,850
78409	$930	$1,010	$1,230	$1,620	$1,850
78410	$1,020	$1,130	$1,360	$1,780	$2,000
78411	$1,010	$1,110	$1,340	$1,750	$1,970
78412	$1,240	$1,370	$1,650	$2,150	$2,420
78413	$1,120	$1,230	$1,490	$1,950	$2,190
78414	$1,310	$1,440	$1,740	$2,270	$2,560
78415	$1,070	$1,180	$1,420	$1,850	$2,090
78416	$930	$1,010	$1,230	$1,620	$1,850
78417	$1,020	$1,130	$1,360	$1,780	$2,000
78418	$1,100	$1,210	$1,460	$1,910	$2,140
78419	$1,550	$1,710	$2,060	$2,690	$3,030
78426	$1,070	$1,180	$1,420	$1,850	$2,090
78427	$1,070	$1,180	$1,420	$1,850	$2,090
78460	$1,070	$1,180	$1,420	$1,850	$2,090
78463	$1,070	$1,180	$1,420	$1,850	$2,090
78465	$1,070	$1,180	$1,420	$1,850	$2,090
78466	$1,070	$1,180	$1,420	$1,850	$2,090
78467	$1,070	$1,180	$1,420	$1,850	$2,090
78468	$1,070	$1,180	$1,420	$1,850	$2,090
78469	$1,070	$1,180	$1,420	$1,850	$2,090
78480	$1,070	$1,180	$1,420	$1,850	$2,090

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

HUD income limits for Nueces County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $83,700 (FY2025: $82,700, +1.2%). 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 +1.1%	$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 +2.0%
Very low income (50%)	$29,300 +1.2%	$33,500 +1.2%	$37,700 +1.2%	$41,850 +1.2%	$45,200 +1.1%	$48,550 +1.1%	$51,900 +1.2%	$55,250 +1.2%
Low income (80%)	$46,900 +1.2%	$53,600 +1.2%	$60,300 +1.3%	$66,950 +1.2%	$72,350 +1.3%	$77,700 +1.2%	$83,050 +1.2%	$88,400 +1.2%

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.