Jefferson 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).

$1,3762-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0521-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$102,70080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$128,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Jefferson County is $1,376 a month, up 10.0% from $1,251 in FY2026. Jefferson County belongs to the Jefferson 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 Jefferson County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,045	$947	+10.3%	$941 – $1,149
1 bedroom	$1,052	$953	+10.4%	$947 – $1,157
2 bedrooms	$1,376	$1,251	+10.0%	$1,239 – $1,513
3 bedrooms	$1,879	$1,740	+8.0%	$1,692 – $2,066
4 bedrooms	$2,300	$2,099	+9.6%	$2,070 – $2,530

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 Jefferson County that is typically $1,239 to $1,513 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?

$46,010median income of renter households

$1,108Median gross rent, all units

29%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

41%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $46,010 can afford about $1,150 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,376 is $226 (19.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $55,040 a year under the 30% rule, or $49,536 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Jefferson County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,108 ±$53
Median income of renter households	$46,010 ±$3,468
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	41.3% ±5.1
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	19.4% ±4.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	4,083

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$998	$1,108	+11.0%
Median renter household income	$40,771	$46,010	+12.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	46.8%	41.3%	−5.5 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 $1,220 to $1,610 depending on the ZIP code.

All 12 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
20135	$1,390	$1,450	$1,610	$2,060	$2,420
25404	$890	$950	$1,220	$1,690	$1,920
25414	$1,010	$1,020	$1,330	$1,820	$2,220
25423	$1,050	$1,050	$1,380	$1,880	$2,310
25425	$1,120	$1,120	$1,470	$2,010	$2,460
25430	$1,110	$1,140	$1,480	$2,020	$2,430
25432	$1,120	$1,120	$1,470	$2,010	$2,460
25438	$1,030	$1,040	$1,360	$1,860	$2,270
25441	$1,050	$1,050	$1,380	$1,880	$2,310
25442	$1,040	$1,050	$1,370	$1,870	$2,290
25443	$980	$990	$1,290	$1,770	$2,160
25446	$1,160	$1,190	$1,470	$1,960	$2,350

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

HUD income limits for Jefferson County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $128,400 (FY2025: $127,600, +0.6%). 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%)	$26,950 +0.4%	$30,800 +0.5%	$34,650 +0.4%	$38,500 +0.5%	$41,600 +0.5%	$44,700 +0.6%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$44,950 +0.6%	$51,400 +0.7%	$57,800 +0.6%	$64,200 +0.6%	$69,350 +0.6%	$74,500 +0.6%	$79,650 +0.6%	$84,750 +0.6%
Low income (80%)	$71,900 +0.6%	$82,200 +0.6%	$92,450 +0.6%	$102,700 +0.6%	$110,950 +0.6%	$119,150 +0.6%	$127,350 +0.6%	$135,600 +0.6%

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.