Columbia 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).

$1,1362-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8681-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$85,85080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$107,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Columbia County is $1,136 a month, down 4.9% from $1,195 in FY2026. Columbia County belongs to the Columbia County, WI 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 Columbia County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$791	$824	−4.0%	$712 – $870
1 bedroom	$868	$911	−4.7%	$782 – $954
2 bedrooms	$1,136	$1,195	−4.9%	$1,023 – $1,249
3 bedrooms	$1,573	$1,645	−4.4%	$1,416 – $1,730
4 bedrooms	$1,623	$1,798	−9.7%	$1,461 – $1,785

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 Columbia County that is typically $1,023 to $1,249 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?

$48,862median income of renter households

$978Median gross rent, all units

24%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

35%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $48,862 can afford about $1,222 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,136 is $86 (7.0%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $45,440 a year under the 30% rule, or $40,896 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Columbia County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$978 ±$43
Median income of renter households	$48,862 ±$2,812
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	35.1% ±4.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	17.5% ±3.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	5,289

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$801	$978	+22.1%
Median renter household income	$38,427	$48,862	+27.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	35.7%	35.1%	−0.6 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 $1,080 to $1,590 depending on the ZIP code.

All 21 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
53532	$1,210	$1,400	$1,590	$2,080	$2,300
53555	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,090	$2,260
53561	$860	$1,010	$1,200	$1,510	$1,630
53571	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,050	$2,260
53578	$1,040	$1,210	$1,440	$1,810	$1,960
53583	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53901	$810	$890	$1,170	$1,620	$1,670
53911	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53913	$840	$990	$1,160	$1,490	$1,620
53923	$750	$820	$1,080	$1,490	$1,620
53925	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53926	$860	$930	$1,190	$1,500	$1,620
53928	$750	$820	$1,080	$1,490	$1,620
53932	$1,000	$1,100	$1,440	$1,990	$2,070
53935	$750	$820	$1,080	$1,490	$1,620
53954	$750	$820	$1,080	$1,490	$1,620
53955	$750	$820	$1,080	$1,490	$1,620
53956	$750	$820	$1,080	$1,490	$1,620
53960	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53965	$860	$940	$1,150	$1,490	$1,620
53969	$750	$820	$1,080	$1,490	$1,620

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

HUD income limits for Columbia County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $107,300 (FY2025: $106,100, +1.1%). 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%)	$22,550 +1.1%	$25,800 +1.2%	$29,000 +1.0%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$37,600 +1.2%	$42,950 +1.2%	$48,300 +1.2%	$53,650 +1.1%	$57,950 +1.1%	$62,250 +1.1%	$66,550 +1.1%	$70,850 +1.1%
Low income (80%)	$60,100 +1.1%	$68,700 +1.1%	$77,300 +1.1%	$85,850 +1.1%	$92,750 +1.1%	$99,600 +1.1%	$106,500 +1.1%	$113,350 +1.1%

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.