Staunton city, 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).

$1,1992-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0471-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$78,80080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$98,500Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Staunton city is $1,199 a month, down 4.9% from $1,261 in FY2026. Staunton city belongs to the Staunton-Stuarts Draft, 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 Staunton city by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,041	$1,088	−4.3%	$937 – $1,145
1 bedroom	$1,047	$1,095	−4.4%	$943 – $1,151
2 bedrooms	$1,199	$1,261	−4.9%	$1,080 – $1,318
3 bedrooms	$1,634	$1,734	−5.8%	$1,471 – $1,797
4 bedrooms	$1,798	$1,941	−7.4%	$1,619 – $1,977

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 Staunton city that is typically $1,080 to $1,318 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?

$41,888median income of renter households

$1,024Median gross rent, all units

29%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

46%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $41,888 can afford about $1,047 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,199 is $152 (14.5%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $47,960 a year under the 30% rule, or $43,164 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Staunton city, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,024 ±$69
Median income of renter households	$41,888 ±$4,853
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	45.6% ±6.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	23.1% ±5.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	4,166

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$861	$1,024	+18.9%
Median renter household income	$34,699	$41,888	+20.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	45.6%	45.6%	+0.0 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 $1,140 to $1,800 depending on the ZIP code.

All 32 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
22812	$1,060	$1,070	$1,290	$1,760	$2,050
22841	$1,020	$1,020	$1,230	$1,690	$1,980
22843	$980	$990	$1,140	$1,570	$1,750
22920	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22939	$1,560	$1,570	$1,800	$2,450	$2,700
22952	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22958	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22967	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
22980	$980	$990	$1,140	$1,570	$1,750
24401	$1,060	$1,060	$1,220	$1,660	$1,830
24402	$1,010	$1,010	$1,160	$1,580	$1,750
24411	$980	$990	$1,140	$1,570	$1,750
24421	$1,150	$1,160	$1,330	$1,810	$1,990
24430	$980	$990	$1,140	$1,570	$1,750
24431	$980	$1,010	$1,170	$1,590	$1,830
24432	$1,040	$1,040	$1,200	$1,650	$1,850
24437	$980	$990	$1,140	$1,570	$1,750
24439	$980	$990	$1,140	$1,570	$1,750
24440	$1,110	$1,120	$1,280	$1,740	$1,920
24441	$980	$990	$1,190	$1,630	$1,920
24459	$1,050	$1,070	$1,220	$1,660	$1,860
24463	$1,110	$1,120	$1,280	$1,740	$1,920
24467	$980	$990	$1,140	$1,570	$1,750
24469	$1,110	$1,120	$1,280	$1,740	$1,920
24472	$980	$990	$1,140	$1,570	$1,750
24476	$1,110	$1,120	$1,280	$1,740	$1,920
24477	$1,180	$1,190	$1,360	$1,850	$2,040
24479	$1,060	$1,060	$1,220	$1,660	$1,830
24482	$1,120	$1,130	$1,290	$1,760	$1,930
24483	$1,280	$1,450	$1,650	$2,000	$2,460
24485	$1,110	$1,120	$1,280	$1,740	$1,920
24486	$1,030	$1,040	$1,190	$1,630	$1,920

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

HUD income limits for Staunton city (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $98,500 (FY2025: $94,400, +4.3%). 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%)	$20,700 +4.3%	$23,650 +4.4%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$34,500 +4.4%	$39,400 +4.2%	$44,350 +4.4%	$49,250 +4.3%	$53,200 +4.3%	$57,150 +4.3%	$61,100 +4.4%	$65,050 +4.3%
Low income (80%)	$55,200 +4.4%	$63,050 +4.4%	$70,950 +4.4%	$78,800 +4.4%	$85,150 +4.4%	$91,450 +4.4%	$97,750 +4.4%	$104,050 +4.4%

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.