San Juan County, WA: 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).

$2,0222-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,5461-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$90,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$113,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in San Juan County is $2,022 a month, up 14.8% from $1,762 in FY2026. San Juan County belongs to the San Juan County, WA 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 San Juan County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,408	$1,215	+15.9%	$1,268 – $1,548
1 bedroom	$1,546	$1,343	+15.1%	$1,392 – $1,700
2 bedrooms	$2,022	$1,762	+14.8%	$1,820 – $2,224
3 bedrooms	$2,647	$2,332	+13.5%	$2,383 – $2,911
4 bedrooms	$2,657	$2,333	+13.9%	$2,392 – $2,922

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 San Juan County that is typically $1,820 to $2,224 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.

Washington has a statewide cap on rent increases. 7% plus inflation, never more than 10% in 12 months. 2026: 9.683%. 2027: 10%. Calculate the maximum increase for Washington →

Can local renters afford the fair market rent?

$58,281median income of renter households

$1,512Median gross rent, all units

31%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

45%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $58,281 can afford about $1,457 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $2,022 is $565 (38.8%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $80,880 a year under the 30% rule, or $72,792 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

San Juan County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,512 ±$112
Median income of renter households	$58,281 ±$5,623
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	44.6% ±4.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	25.2% ±4.5
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,630

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,000	$1,512	+51.2%
Median renter household income	$42,924	$58,281	+35.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	42.6%	44.6%	+2.0 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.

HUD income limits for San Juan County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $113,100 (FY2025: $113,200, −0.1%). 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%)	$23,800 +2.1%	$27,200 +2.3%	$30,600 +2.2%	$33,950 +2.1%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$39,600 +2.1%	$45,250 +2.1%	$50,900 +2.0%	$56,550 +2.1%	$61,100 +2.1%	$65,600 +2.0%	$70,150 +2.1%	$74,650 +2.1%
Low income (80%)	$63,350 +2.0%	$72,400 +2.0%	$81,450 +2.1%	$90,500 +2.1%	$97,750 +2.1%	$105,000 +2.1%	$112,250 +2.1%	$119,500 +2.1%

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.