Wood 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).

$9742-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7981-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$74,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Wood County is $974 a month, up 5.0% from $928 in FY2026. Wood County belongs to the Parkersburg-Vienna, WV 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 Wood County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$793	$741	+7.0%	$714 – $872
1 bedroom	$798	$745	+7.1%	$719 – $877
2 bedrooms	$974	$928	+5.0%	$877 – $1,071
3 bedrooms	$1,214	$1,194	+1.7%	$1,093 – $1,335
4 bedrooms	$1,281	$1,253	+2.2%	$1,153 – $1,409

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 Wood County that is typically $877 to $1,071 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?

$32,362median income of renter households

$822Median gross rent, all units

30%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

49%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $32,362 can afford about $809 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $974 is $165 (20.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $38,960 a year under the 30% rule, or $35,064 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Wood County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$822 ±$25
Median income of renter households	$32,362 ±$2,462
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	48.8% ±4.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	18.9% ±3.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	7,934

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$713	$822	+15.3%
Median renter household income	$27,810	$32,362	+16.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	49.5%	48.8%	−0.7 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 $1,090 depending on the ZIP code.

All 26 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
25252	$720	$790	$940	$1,200	$1,340
25270	$710	$860	$940	$1,310	$1,510
25275	$770	$860	$1,020	$1,280	$1,440
26101	$770	$780	$950	$1,180	$1,250
26102	$800	$800	$980	$1,220	$1,290
26103	$800	$800	$980	$1,220	$1,290
26104	$770	$780	$950	$1,180	$1,250
26105	$830	$840	$1,020	$1,270	$1,340
26121	$800	$800	$980	$1,220	$1,290
26133	$860	$890	$1,070	$1,340	$1,440
26138	$730	$770	$940	$1,240	$1,270
26141	$730	$770	$940	$1,260	$1,280
26142	$790	$800	$970	$1,210	$1,280
26143	$770	$770	$940	$1,190	$1,250
26150	$830	$840	$1,020	$1,270	$1,340
26152	$770	$770	$940	$1,190	$1,250
26160	$770	$770	$940	$1,190	$1,250
26161	$720	$730	$940	$1,170	$1,360
26164	$810	$910	$1,080	$1,360	$1,540
26169	$800	$820	$990	$1,240	$1,320
26170	$760	$770	$1,010	$1,360	$1,370
26180	$770	$780	$950	$1,190	$1,260
26181	$890	$890	$1,090	$1,360	$1,430
26184	$760	$770	$940	$1,200	$1,260
26187	$850	$850	$1,040	$1,300	$1,370
26337	$710	$720	$940	$1,170	$1,390

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

HUD income limits for Wood County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $74,100 (FY2025: $72,400, +2.3%). 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 +3.8%	$46,600 +3.8%	$49,600 +3.8%
Very low income (50%)	$26,300 +3.7%	$30,050 +3.6%	$33,800 +3.7%	$37,550 +3.7%	$40,600 +3.8%	$43,600 +3.8%	$46,600 +3.8%	$49,600 +3.8%
Low income (80%)	$42,100 +3.8%	$48,100 +3.8%	$54,100 +3.7%	$60,100 +3.8%	$64,950 +3.8%	$69,750 +3.8%	$74,550 +3.8%	$79,350 +3.8%

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.