Whitman 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).

$1,2692-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0011-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$82,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$103,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Whitman County is $1,269 a month, up 8.6% from $1,169 in FY2026. Whitman County belongs to the Whitman 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 Whitman County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$884	$806	+9.7%	$796 – $972
1 bedroom	$1,001	$891	+12.3%	$901 – $1,101
2 bedrooms	$1,269	$1,169	+8.6%	$1,143 – $1,395
3 bedrooms	$1,757	$1,626	+8.1%	$1,582 – $1,932
4 bedrooms	$2,121	$1,961	+8.2%	$1,909 – $2,333

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 Whitman County that is typically $1,143 to $1,395 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?

$29,191median income of renter households

$1,049Median gross rent, all units

43%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

62%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $29,191 can afford about $730 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,269 is $539 (73.9%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $50,760 a year under the 30% rule, or $45,684 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Whitman County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,049 ±$34
Median income of renter households	$29,191 ±$3,996
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	61.8% ±5.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	41.1% ±4.5
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	9,006

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$814	$1,049	+28.9%
Median renter household income	$24,340	$29,191	+19.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	59.4%	61.8%	+2.4 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 Whitman County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $103,100 (FY2025: $98,300, +4.9%). 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%)	$21,700 +5.1%	$24,800 +5.1%	$27,900 +4.7%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$36,100 +4.8%	$41,250 +4.8%	$46,400 +4.9%	$51,550 +4.9%	$55,700 +4.9%	$59,800 +4.8%	$63,950 +4.9%	$68,050 +4.9%
Low income (80%)	$57,750 +4.8%	$66,000 +4.8%	$74,250 +4.9%	$82,500 +4.9%	$89,100 +4.9%	$95,700 +4.9%	$102,300 +4.9%	$108,900 +4.9%

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.