Calhoun 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

$7621-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$60,10080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$48,500Median family income (FY2026)

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

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$708	$667	+6.1%	$638 – $778
1 bedroom	$762	$706	+7.9%	$686 – $838
2 bedrooms	$944	$869	+8.6%	$850 – $1,038
3 bedrooms	$1,273	$1,173	+8.5%	$1,146 – $1,400
4 bedrooms	$1,278	$1,177	+8.6%	$1,151 – $1,405

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 Calhoun 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?

$20,170median income of renter households (low reliability)

$473Median gross rent, all units

28%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 $20,170 can afford about $504 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $944 is $440 (87.2%) 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.

Calhoun County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$473 ±$127
Median income of renter households	$20,170 ±$15,919
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	44.8% ±3.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	27.8% ±9.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	223

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$611	$473	−22.6%
Median renter household income	$17,258	$20,170	+16.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	33.4%	44.8%	+11.4 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 Calhoun County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $48,500 (FY2025: $51,400, −5.6%). 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%)	$15,960 +2.0%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$43,600 +5.3%	$46,600 +5.3%	$49,600 +5.3%
Very low income (50%)	$26,300 +5.2%	$30,050 +5.3%	$33,800 +5.3%	$37,550 +5.3%	$40,600 +5.3%	$43,600 +5.3%	$46,600 +5.3%	$49,600 +5.3%
Low income (80%)	$42,100 +5.4%	$48,100 +5.4%	$54,100 +5.4%	$60,100 +5.3%	$64,950 +5.4%	$69,750 +5.4%	$74,550 +5.4%	$79,350 +5.3%

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.