Iowa 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).

$1,0932-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8361-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$88,70080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$110,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Iowa County is $1,093 a month, down 6.4% from $1,168 in FY2026. Iowa County belongs to the Iowa 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 Iowa County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$830	$884	−6.1%	$747 – $913
1 bedroom	$836	$890	−6.1%	$753 – $919
2 bedrooms	$1,093	$1,168	−6.4%	$984 – $1,202
3 bedrooms	$1,460	$1,535	−4.9%	$1,314 – $1,606
4 bedrooms	$1,827	$1,959	−6.7%	$1,645 – $2,009

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 Iowa County that is typically $984 to $1,202 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?

$47,240median income of renter households

$954Median gross rent, all units

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

37%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $47,240 can afford about $1,181 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,093 is $88 (7.5%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $43,720 a year under the 30% rule, or $39,348 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Iowa County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$954 ±$53
Median income of renter households	$47,240 ±$5,194
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	37.1% ±7.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	17.8% ±5.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	2,016

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$750	$954	+27.2%
Median renter household income	$39,366	$47,240	+20.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	35.0%	37.1%	+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 $1,060 to $1,530 depending on the ZIP code.

All 22 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
53503	$870	$870	$1,140	$1,520	$1,910
53506	$800	$810	$1,060	$1,420	$1,770
53507	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,460
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
53526	$920	$920	$1,210	$1,620	$2,020
53533	$860	$860	$1,130	$1,510	$1,890
53535	$830	$830	$1,090	$1,460	$1,820
53543	$800	$810	$1,060	$1,390	$1,770
53544	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53553	$800	$810	$1,060	$1,390	$1,770
53554	$800	$810	$1,060	$1,390	$1,770
53560	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53565	$800	$810	$1,060	$1,390	$1,770
53569	$810	$830	$1,060	$1,390	$1,770
53572	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53573	$800	$810	$1,060	$1,390	$1,770
53580	$900	$900	$1,180	$1,580	$1,970
53582	$800	$810	$1,060	$1,390	$1,770
53588	$830	$970	$1,150	$1,440	$1,770
53818	$840	$860	$1,090	$1,390	$1,810

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

HUD income limits for Iowa County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $110,900 (FY2025: $113,400, −2.2%). 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%)	$23,300 −2.1%	$26,600 −2.2%	$29,950 −2.1%	$33,250 −2.2%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$38,850 −2.1%	$44,400 −2.2%	$49,950 −2.2%	$55,450 −2.2%	$59,900 −2.2%	$64,350 −2.2%	$68,800 −2.2%	$73,200 −2.2%
Low income (80%)	$62,100 −2.2%	$71,000 −2.2%	$79,850 −2.2%	$88,700 −2.2%	$95,800 −2.2%	$102,900 −2.2%	$110,000 −2.2%	$117,100 −2.2%

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.