Washington 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).

$1,4002-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0701-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$81,30080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$101,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Washington County is $1,400 a month, up 7.0% from $1,309 in FY2026. Washington County belongs to the Washington 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 Washington County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,064	$991	+7.4%	$958 – $1,170
1 bedroom	$1,070	$998	+7.2%	$963 – $1,177
2 bedrooms	$1,400	$1,309	+7.0%	$1,260 – $1,540
3 bedrooms	$1,685	$1,692	−0.4%	$1,517 – $1,853
4 bedrooms	$1,883	$1,733	+8.7%	$1,695 – $2,071

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 Washington County that is typically $1,260 to $1,540 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?

$53,601median income of renter households

$1,165Median gross rent, all units

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

44%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $53,601 can afford about $1,340 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,400 is $60 (4.5%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $56,000 a year under the 30% rule, or $50,400 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Washington County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,165 ±$61
Median income of renter households	$53,601 ±$10,703
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	44.2% ±8.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	18.0% ±5.3
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	4,064

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$885	$1,165	+31.6%
Median renter household income	$32,739	$53,601	+63.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	50.6%	44.2%	−6.4 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 Washington County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $101,600 (FY2025: $100,100, +1.5%). 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%)	$21,350 +1.9%	$24,400 +1.9%	$27,450 +1.9%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$35,600 +2.2%	$40,650 +2.0%	$45,750 +2.0%	$50,800 +1.9%	$54,900 +1.9%	$58,950 +2.0%	$63,000 +1.9%	$67,100 +2.0%
Low income (80%)	$56,950 +2.1%	$65,050 +2.0%	$73,200 +2.0%	$81,300 +2.0%	$87,850 +2.0%	$94,350 +2.0%	$100,850 +2.0%	$107,350 +2.0%

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.