Albemarle County, VA: 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).

$1,6422-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,4421-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$106,80080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$139,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Albemarle County is $1,642 a month, down 10.0% from $1,824 in FY2026. Albemarle County belongs to the Charlottesville, VA MSA 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 Albemarle County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,279	$1,421	−10.0%	$1,152 – $1,406
1 bedroom	$1,442	$1,602	−10.0%	$1,298 – $1,586
2 bedrooms	$1,642	$1,824	−10.0%	$1,478 – $1,806
3 bedrooms	$1,997	$2,218	−10.0%	$1,798 – $2,196
4 bedrooms	$2,458	$2,731	−10.0%	$2,213 – $2,703

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 Albemarle County that is typically $1,478 to $1,806 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?

$65,852median income of renter households

$1,692Median gross rent, all units

31%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 $65,852 can afford about $1,646 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,642 is $4 (0.3%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $65,680 a year under the 30% rule, or $59,112 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Albemarle County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,692 ±$33
Median income of renter households	$65,852 ±$4,792
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	49.9% ±4.3
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	25.7% ±3.3
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	14,697

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,273	$1,692	+32.9%
Median renter household income	$54,072	$65,852	+21.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	45.7%	49.9%	+4.2 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 $1,650 to $1,940 depending on the ZIP code.

All 51 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
22901	$1,360	$1,530	$1,750	$2,130	$2,610
22902	$1,440	$1,630	$1,850	$2,250	$2,770
22903	$1,330	$1,500	$1,710	$2,070	$2,550
22904	$1,330	$1,500	$1,710	$2,070	$2,550
22905	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22906	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22908	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22911	$1,490	$1,680	$1,910	$2,330	$2,860
22920	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22922	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22923	$1,350	$1,540	$1,760	$2,190	$2,540
22924	$1,350	$1,540	$1,740	$2,120	$2,610
22931	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22932	$1,510	$1,710	$1,940	$2,350	$2,900
22935	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22936	$1,380	$1,590	$1,780	$2,160	$2,660
22937	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22938	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22940	$1,390	$1,570	$1,790	$2,180	$2,690
22942	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22943	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22945	$1,350	$1,540	$1,740	$2,120	$2,610
22946	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22947	$1,410	$1,590	$1,800	$2,200	$2,700
22949	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22952	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22958	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22959	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22963	$1,420	$1,600	$1,820	$2,220	$2,720
22964	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22965	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22967	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22968	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22969	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22971	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22973	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22974	$1,300	$1,480	$1,660	$2,050	$2,480
22976	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
23022	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
23038	$1,300	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
23055	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
23084	$1,300	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
23093	$1,300	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
24464	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
24483	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
24521	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
24553	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
24562	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
24581	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
24590	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
24599	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460

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

HUD income limits for Albemarle County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $139,800 (FY2025: $125,800, +11.1%). 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%)	$29,050 +9.8%	$33,200 +9.9%	$37,350 +9.9%	$41,500 +9.9%	$44,850 +9.9%	$48,150 +9.9%	$51,500 +5.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$48,450 +10.0%	$55,350 +9.9%	$62,250 +9.9%	$69,150 +9.9%	$74,700 +9.9%	$80,250 +9.9%	$85,750 +9.9%	$91,300 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$74,800 +6.1%	$85,450 +6.1%	$96,150 +6.1%	$106,800 +6.1%	$115,350 +6.1%	$123,900 +6.1%	$132,450 +6.1%	$141,000 +6.1%

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.