Putnam 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).

$1,0912-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8341-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$84,80080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$106,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Putnam County is $1,091 a month, up 3.5% from $1,054 in FY2026. Putnam County belongs to the Putnam 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 Putnam County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$829	$798	+3.9%	$747 – $911
1 bedroom	$834	$803	+3.9%	$751 – $917
2 bedrooms	$1,091	$1,054	+3.5%	$982 – $1,200
3 bedrooms	$1,500	$1,461	+2.7%	$1,350 – $1,650
4 bedrooms	$1,542	$1,575	−2.1%	$1,388 – $1,696

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 Putnam County that is typically $982 to $1,200 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?

$40,380median income of renter households

$952Median gross rent, all units

28%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 $40,380 can afford about $1,010 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,091 is $82 (8.1%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $43,640 a year under the 30% rule, or $39,276 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Putnam County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$952 ±$81
Median income of renter households	$40,380 ±$7,240
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	43.8% ±8.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	24.6% ±8.5
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	3,671

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$831	$952	+14.6%
Median renter household income	$33,417	$40,380	+20.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	41.7%	43.8%	+2.1 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 $950 to $1,600 depending on the ZIP code.

All 21 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
25011	$720	$730	$950	$1,320	$1,430
25033	$720	$730	$950	$1,320	$1,430
25070	$860	$860	$1,130	$1,550	$1,600
25082	$840	$860	$1,070	$1,430	$1,500
25109	$840	$850	$1,110	$1,520	$1,560
25123	$970	$1,120	$1,290	$1,650	$1,750
25124	$830	$940	$1,130	$1,450	$1,540
25143	$760	$840	$1,070	$1,380	$1,430
25159	$810	$810	$1,060	$1,440	$1,660
25168	$790	$800	$1,030	$1,420	$1,460
25177	$720	$810	$1,010	$1,320	$1,430
25213	$850	$860	$1,120	$1,540	$1,580
25245	$770	$870	$1,020	$1,320	$1,440
25248	$720	$800	$950	$1,320	$1,430
25312	$720	$820	$1,020	$1,320	$1,430
25510	$930	$940	$1,140	$1,500	$1,600
25523	$720	$870	$950	$1,320	$1,590
25526	$770	$770	$1,000	$1,380	$1,430
25541	$970	$1,000	$1,160	$1,480	$1,600
25560	$1,220	$1,220	$1,600	$2,200	$2,260
25569	$830	$830	$1,090	$1,500	$1,540

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

HUD income limits for Putnam County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $106,000 (FY2025: $101,500, +4.4%). 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%)	$22,300 +4.4%	$25,450 +4.3%	$28,650 +4.4%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$37,100 +4.4%	$42,400 +4.4%	$47,700 +4.4%	$53,000 +4.4%	$57,250 +4.4%	$61,500 +4.4%	$65,750 +4.4%	$70,000 +4.5%
Low income (80%)	$59,400 +4.5%	$67,850 +4.4%	$76,350 +4.4%	$84,800 +4.4%	$91,600 +4.4%	$98,400 +4.5%	$105,200 +4.5%	$111,950 +4.4%

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.