Boone County, WV: 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).

$9442-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7221-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$79,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Boone County is $944 a month, up 8.6% from $869 in FY2026. Boone County belongs to the Boone County, WV HUD Metro FMR Area 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 Boone County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$657	$669	−1.8%	$592 – $722
1 bedroom	$722	$674	+7.1%	$650 – $794
2 bedrooms	$944	$869	+8.6%	$850 – $1,038
3 bedrooms	$1,251	$1,195	+4.7%	$1,126 – $1,376
4 bedrooms	$1,578	$1,458	+8.2%	$1,421 – $1,735

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 Boone County that is typically $850 to $1,038 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?

$24,789median income of renter households

$837Median gross rent, all units

41%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

50%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $24,789 can afford about $620 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $944 is $324 (52.3%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $37,760 a year under the 30% rule, or $33,984 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Boone County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$837 ±$122
Median income of renter households	$24,789 ±$5,240
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	49.6% ±9.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	30.8% ±11.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,159

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$646	$837	+29.6%
Median renter household income	$21,050	$24,789	+17.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	60.5%	49.6%	−10.9 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.

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 $940 to $1,040 depending on the ZIP code.

All 32 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
25009	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25021	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25024	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25028	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25047	$680	$790	$940	$1,290	$1,590
25049	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25051	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25053	$700	$770	$1,010	$1,340	$1,690
25081	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25093	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25108	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25114	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25130	$720	$800	$1,040	$1,380	$1,740
25142	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25148	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25149	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25154	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25165	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25169	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25181	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25193	$700	$730	$940	$1,290	$1,480
25203	$700	$780	$1,000	$1,340	$1,680
25204	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25205	$710	$790	$1,030	$1,370	$1,730
25206	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25208	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25209	$700	$730	$940	$1,290	$1,480
25214	$690	$800	$990	$1,250	$1,320
25508	$700	$850	$940	$1,310	$1,590
25524	$770	$920	$1,000	$1,290	$1,690
25529	$660	$720	$940	$1,260	$1,590
25565	$680	$800	$940	$1,230	$1,590

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

HUD income limits for Boone County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $79,900 (FY2025: $76,900, +3.9%). 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%)	$16,800 +6.0%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$49,550 +6.1%	$52,750 +6.1%
Very low income (50%)	$28,000 +6.3%	$32,000 +6.3%	$36,000 +6.2%	$39,950 +6.1%	$43,150 +6.0%	$46,350 +6.1%	$49,550 +6.1%	$52,750 +6.1%
Low income (80%)	$44,750 +6.0%	$51,150 +6.1%	$57,550 +6.1%	$63,900 +6.1%	$69,050 +6.1%	$74,150 +6.1%	$79,250 +6.0%	$84,350 +6.0%

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.