Russell 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).

$9432-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7651-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$63,90080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$73,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Russell County is $943 a month, up 3.2% from $914 in FY2026. Russell County belongs to the Russell County, VA 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 Russell County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$760	$744	+2.2%	$684 – $836
1 bedroom	$765	$748	+2.3%	$689 – $841
2 bedrooms	$943	$914	+3.2%	$849 – $1,037
3 bedrooms	$1,212	$1,156	+4.8%	$1,091 – $1,333
4 bedrooms	$1,406	$1,377	+2.1%	$1,266 – $1,546

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 Russell County that is typically $849 to $1,037 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?

$32,594median income of renter households

$653Median gross rent, all units

24%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

37%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $32,594 can afford about $815 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $943 is $128 (15.7%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $37,720 a year under the 30% rule, or $33,948 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Russell County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$653 ±$50
Median income of renter households	$32,594 ±$6,819
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	36.7% ±6.1
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	19.4% ±6.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,975

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$582	$653	+12.2%
Median renter household income	$22,813	$32,594	+42.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	46.6%	36.7%	−9.9 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 Russell County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $73,000 (FY2025: $72,000, +1.4%). 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%)	$16,800 +2.1%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$49,550 +2.3%	$52,750 +2.3%
Very low income (50%)	$28,000 +2.4%	$32,000 +2.4%	$36,000 +2.4%	$39,950 +2.3%	$43,150 +2.3%	$46,350 +2.3%	$49,550 +2.3%	$52,750 +2.3%
Low income (80%)	$44,750 +2.3%	$51,150 +2.3%	$57,550 +2.3%	$63,900 +2.2%	$69,050 +2.3%	$74,150 +2.3%	$79,250 +2.3%	$84,350 +2.2%

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.