Yakima 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).

$1,3132-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0041-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$77,60080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$88,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Yakima County is $1,313 a month, down 4.4% from $1,374 in FY2026. Yakima County belongs to the Yakima, WA 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 Yakima County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$997	$1,040	−4.1%	$898 – $1,096
1 bedroom	$1,004	$1,047	−4.1%	$904 – $1,104
2 bedrooms	$1,313	$1,374	−4.4%	$1,182 – $1,444
3 bedrooms	$1,818	$1,911	−4.9%	$1,637 – $1,999
4 bedrooms	$2,049	$2,093	−2.1%	$1,845 – $2,253

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 Yakima County that is typically $1,182 to $1,444 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?

$49,408median income of renter households

$1,109Median gross rent, all units

27%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

44%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $49,408 can afford about $1,235 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,313 is $78 (6.3%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $52,520 a year under the 30% rule, or $47,268 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Yakima County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,109 ±$30
Median income of renter households	$49,408 ±$1,966
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	44.3% ±3.1
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.8% ±2.5
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	30,445

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$825	$1,109	+34.4%
Median renter household income	$35,051	$49,408	+41.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	44.8%	44.3%	−0.5 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 $1,240 to $1,780 depending on the ZIP code.

All 25 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
98901	$940	$1,000	$1,310	$1,820	$2,200
98902	$1,030	$1,040	$1,360	$1,880	$2,120
98903	$1,090	$1,100	$1,440	$1,990	$2,250
98907	$990	$1,000	$1,310	$1,810	$2,040
98908	$1,150	$1,150	$1,510	$2,090	$2,360
98909	$990	$1,000	$1,310	$1,810	$2,040
98921	$1,050	$1,050	$1,380	$1,910	$2,150
98923	$940	$950	$1,240	$1,720	$1,890
98930	$1,010	$1,150	$1,390	$1,870	$2,150
98932	$1,030	$1,040	$1,360	$1,880	$2,120
98933	$990	$1,000	$1,310	$1,810	$2,040
98935	$1,060	$1,060	$1,390	$1,920	$2,170
98936	$1,170	$1,180	$1,550	$2,160	$2,360
98937	$1,290	$1,450	$1,780	$2,460	$2,800
98938	$1,040	$1,050	$1,370	$1,890	$2,130
98939	$940	$950	$1,240	$1,720	$1,890
98942	$1,210	$1,220	$1,590	$2,200	$2,480
98944	$1,030	$1,150	$1,390	$1,880	$2,150
98947	$940	$950	$1,240	$1,720	$1,890
98948	$950	$960	$1,250	$1,730	$1,950
98951	$940	$950	$1,240	$1,720	$1,890
98952	$1,020	$1,030	$1,340	$1,860	$2,100
98953	$1,050	$1,050	$1,380	$1,910	$2,150
99322	$950	$1,020	$1,320	$1,770	$1,930
99350	$1,010	$1,150	$1,390	$1,870	$2,150

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

HUD income limits for Yakima County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $88,600 (FY2025: $82,300, +7.7%). 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%)	$20,400 +2.3%	$23,300 +2.2%	$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%)	$33,950 +2.3%	$38,800 +2.2%	$43,650 +2.2%	$48,500 +2.3%	$52,400 +2.3%	$56,300 +2.4%	$60,150 +2.3%	$64,050 +2.3%
Low income (80%)	$54,350 +2.4%	$62,100 +2.3%	$69,850 +2.3%	$77,600 +2.3%	$83,850 +2.3%	$90,050 +2.3%	$96,250 +2.3%	$102,450 +2.3%

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.