Sterling 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).

$1,1852-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9431-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$72,00080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$109,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Sterling County is $1,185 a month, up 4.6% from $1,133 in FY2026. Sterling County belongs to the Sterling 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 Sterling County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$901	$789	+14.2%	$811 – $991
1 bedroom	$943	$899	+4.9%	$849 – $1,037
2 bedrooms	$1,185	$1,133	+4.6%	$1,067 – $1,303
3 bedrooms	$1,412	$1,519	−7.0%	$1,271 – $1,553
4 bedrooms	$1,707	$1,871	−8.8%	$1,537 – $1,877

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 Sterling County that is typically $1,067 to $1,303 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?

$36,250median income of renter households

$952Median gross rent, all units

32%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $36,250 can afford about $906 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,185 is $279 (30.8%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $47,400 a year under the 30% rule, or $42,660 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Sterling County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$952 ±$73
Median income of renter households	$36,250 ±$17,628
Rent burden	too few renter households for a reliable share

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$850	$952	+12.0%
Median renter household income	$55,000	$36,250	−34.1%

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 Sterling County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $109,000 (FY2025: $96,400, +13.1%). 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%)	$18,900 +9.9%	$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 +3.1%
Very low income (50%)	$31,500 +9.9%	$36,000 +9.9%	$40,500 +9.9%	$45,000 +9.9%	$48,600 +10.0%	$52,200 +9.9%	$55,800 +10.0%	$59,400 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$50,400 +9.9%	$57,600 +9.9%	$64,800 +9.9%	$72,000 +9.9%	$77,800 +10.0%	$83,550 +9.9%	$89,300 +9.9%	$95,050 +9.9%

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.