Chippewa County, WI: 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).

$1,2592-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0171-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$81,05080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$101,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Chippewa County is $1,259 a month, up 6.6% from $1,181 in FY2026. Chippewa County belongs to the Eau Claire, WI 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 Chippewa County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,014	$932	+8.8%	$913 – $1,115
1 bedroom	$1,017	$962	+5.7%	$916 – $1,118
2 bedrooms	$1,259	$1,181	+6.6%	$1,134 – $1,384
3 bedrooms	$1,695	$1,582	+7.1%	$1,526 – $1,864
4 bedrooms	$1,701	$1,588	+7.1%	$1,531 – $1,871

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 Chippewa County that is typically $1,134 to $1,384 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?

$45,681median income of renter households

$963Median gross rent, all units

25%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

42%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $45,681 can afford about $1,142 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,259 is $117 (10.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $50,360 a year under the 30% rule, or $45,324 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Chippewa County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$963 ±$36
Median income of renter households	$45,681 ±$3,484
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	41.8% ±6.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	17.7% ±4.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	6,640

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$821	$963	+17.3%
Median renter household income	$34,468	$45,681	+32.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	45.0%	41.8%	−3.2 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 $1,070 to $1,450 depending on the ZIP code.

All 24 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
54433	$840	$870	$1,070	$1,430	$1,460
54701	$1,040	$1,040	$1,290	$1,740	$1,740
54702	$1,020	$1,030	$1,270	$1,710	$1,720
54703	$1,030	$1,030	$1,280	$1,720	$1,730
54720	$1,170	$1,170	$1,450	$1,950	$1,960
54722	$850	$870	$1,070	$1,430	$1,430
54724	$870	$870	$1,080	$1,450	$1,550
54726	$850	$870	$1,070	$1,430	$1,430
54727	$880	$880	$1,090	$1,470	$1,470
54729	$1,010	$1,020	$1,260	$1,700	$1,700
54730	$840	$870	$1,070	$1,430	$1,660
54732	$890	$900	$1,110	$1,490	$1,500
54738	$840	$870	$1,070	$1,430	$1,430
54739	$940	$950	$1,200	$1,610	$1,880
54741	$840	$870	$1,070	$1,430	$1,430
54742	$1,110	$1,110	$1,380	$1,860	$1,860
54745	$930	$940	$1,170	$1,560	$1,580
54748	$1,000	$1,000	$1,240	$1,670	$1,680
54755	$840	$870	$1,070	$1,430	$1,590
54757	$840	$870	$1,070	$1,430	$1,570
54758	$840	$870	$1,070	$1,430	$1,430
54766	$840	$870	$1,070	$1,430	$1,430
54768	$840	$870	$1,070	$1,430	$1,430
54770	$840	$870	$1,070	$1,430	$1,430

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

HUD income limits for Chippewa County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $101,300 (FY2025: $103,200, −1.8%). 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%)	$21,300 −1.8%	$24,350 −1.8%	$27,400 −1.8%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$35,500 −1.8%	$40,550 −1.8%	$45,600 −1.8%	$50,650 −1.8%	$54,750 −1.8%	$58,800 −1.8%	$62,850 −1.8%	$66,900 −1.8%
Low income (80%)	$56,750 −1.8%	$64,850 −1.8%	$72,950 −1.8%	$81,050 −1.8%	$87,550 −1.8%	$94,050 −1.8%	$100,550 −1.8%	$107,000 −1.8%

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.