Dane 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).

$1,5652-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,3751-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$106,80080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$135,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Dane County is $1,565 a month, down 7.6% from $1,694 in FY2026. Dane County belongs to the Madison, 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 Dane County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,196	$1,268	−5.7%	$1,077 – $1,315
1 bedroom	$1,375	$1,482	−7.2%	$1,238 – $1,512
2 bedrooms	$1,565	$1,694	−7.6%	$1,409 – $1,721
3 bedrooms	$2,047	$2,236	−8.5%	$1,843 – $2,251
4 bedrooms	$2,264	$2,509	−9.8%	$2,038 – $2,490

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 Dane County that is typically $1,409 to $1,721 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?

$56,374median income of renter households

$1,398Median gross rent, all units

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

48%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $56,374 can afford about $1,409 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,565 is $156 (11.0%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $62,600 a year under the 30% rule, or $56,340 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Dane County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,398 ±$17
Median income of renter households	$56,374 ±$1,531
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	47.8% ±1.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	23.1% ±1.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	103,362

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,083	$1,398	+29.1%
Median renter household income	$44,321	$56,374	+27.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	46.2%	47.8%	+1.6 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 $1,530 to $1,900 depending on the ZIP code.

All 52 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
53507	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,460
53508	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53515	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53516	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53517	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53521	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53523	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53527	$1,320	$1,540	$1,760	$2,320	$2,610
53528	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53529	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53531	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53532	$1,210	$1,400	$1,590	$2,080	$2,300
53534	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53544	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53555	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,090	$2,260
53558	$1,320	$1,520	$1,730	$2,260	$2,500
53559	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53560	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53562	$1,250	$1,430	$1,630	$2,130	$2,360
53571	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,050	$2,260
53572	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53574	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53575	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53583	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53589	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53590	$1,240	$1,420	$1,620	$2,120	$2,340
53593	$1,370	$1,570	$1,790	$2,340	$2,590
53594	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53597	$1,190	$1,370	$1,560	$2,040	$2,260
53598	$1,350	$1,550	$1,760	$2,300	$2,550
53701	$1,200	$1,380	$1,570	$2,050	$2,270
53703	$1,430	$1,640	$1,870	$2,450	$2,710
53704	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53705	$1,220	$1,400	$1,590	$2,080	$2,300
53706	$1,330	$1,530	$1,750	$2,310	$2,590
53707	$1,200	$1,380	$1,570	$2,050	$2,270
53708	$1,200	$1,380	$1,570	$2,050	$2,270
53711	$1,160	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53713	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53714	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53715	$1,450	$1,670	$1,900	$2,500	$2,800
53716	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53717	$1,280	$1,470	$1,670	$2,180	$2,420
53718	$1,410	$1,630	$1,850	$2,420	$2,680
53719	$1,380	$1,590	$1,810	$2,370	$2,620
53725	$1,200	$1,380	$1,570	$2,050	$2,270
53726	$1,270	$1,480	$1,700	$2,240	$2,510
53744	$1,200	$1,380	$1,570	$2,050	$2,270
53792	$1,200	$1,380	$1,570	$2,050	$2,270
53911	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53925	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53960	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260

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

HUD income limits for Dane County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $135,300 (FY2025: $129,800, +4.2%). 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%)	$28,450 +4.2%	$32,500 +4.2%	$36,550 +4.1%	$40,600 +4.2%	$43,850 +4.2%	$47,100 +4.2%	$50,350 +3.5%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$47,400 +4.3%	$54,150 +4.2%	$60,900 +4.2%	$67,650 +4.2%	$73,100 +4.3%	$78,500 +4.2%	$83,900 +4.2%	$89,300 +4.2%
Low income (80%)	$74,800 +2.9%	$85,450 +2.8%	$96,150 +2.8%	$106,800 +2.8%	$115,350 +2.8%	$123,900 +2.8%	$132,450 +2.8%	$141,000 +2.8%

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.