Kenosha 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).

$1,4412-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,1441-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$93,85080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$117,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Kenosha County is $1,441 a month, up 2.8% from $1,402 in FY2026. Kenosha County belongs to the Kenosha, 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 Kenosha County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,136	$1,085	+4.7%	$1,023 – $1,249
1 bedroom	$1,144	$1,092	+4.8%	$1,030 – $1,258
2 bedrooms	$1,441	$1,402	+2.8%	$1,297 – $1,585
3 bedrooms	$1,956	$1,899	+3.0%	$1,761 – $2,151
4 bedrooms	$2,228	$2,174	+2.5%	$2,006 – $2,450

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 Kenosha County that is typically $1,297 to $1,585 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?

$52,035median income of renter households

$1,219Median gross rent, all units

28%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

47%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $52,035 can afford about $1,301 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,441 is $140 (10.8%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $57,640 a year under the 30% rule, or $51,876 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Kenosha County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,219 ±$30
Median income of renter households	$52,035 ±$2,739
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	47.3% ±2.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	23.3% ±1.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	21,497

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$919	$1,219	+32.6%
Median renter household income	$37,420	$52,035	+39.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	46.6%	47.3%	+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 $1,270 to $1,740 depending on the ZIP code.

All 24 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
53101	$1,140	$1,140	$1,440	$1,950	$2,230
53104	$1,310	$1,320	$1,660	$2,250	$2,570
53105	$980	$1,050	$1,320	$1,710	$2,060
53109	$1,140	$1,140	$1,440	$1,950	$2,230
53128	$1,000	$1,090	$1,420	$1,790	$2,320
53139	$1,130	$1,250	$1,550	$2,000	$2,400
53140	$1,070	$1,080	$1,360	$1,850	$2,100
53141	$1,140	$1,140	$1,440	$1,950	$2,230
53142	$1,270	$1,280	$1,610	$2,190	$2,490
53143	$1,170	$1,170	$1,480	$2,010	$2,290
53144	$1,100	$1,100	$1,390	$1,890	$2,150
53152	$1,140	$1,140	$1,440	$1,950	$2,230
53158	$1,370	$1,380	$1,740	$2,360	$2,690
53159	$1,140	$1,140	$1,440	$1,950	$2,230
53168	$1,220	$1,230	$1,550	$2,100	$2,400
53170	$980	$990	$1,270	$1,710	$1,960
53171	$1,140	$1,140	$1,440	$1,950	$2,230
53177	$1,160	$1,280	$1,590	$2,040	$2,460
53179	$1,060	$1,070	$1,350	$1,830	$2,090
53181	$980	$990	$1,270	$1,710	$1,960
53182	$980	$1,090	$1,350	$1,730	$2,090
53192	$1,040	$1,080	$1,340	$1,780	$2,060
53194	$1,140	$1,140	$1,440	$1,950	$2,230
53403	$980	$1,040	$1,290	$1,710	$1,990

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

HUD income limits for Kenosha County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $117,300 (FY2025: $112,600, +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%)	$24,650 +9.8%	$28,200 +9.9%	$31,700 +9.9%	$35,200 +9.5%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$41,100 +9.9%	$46,950 +9.8%	$52,800 +9.8%	$58,650 +9.8%	$63,350 +9.8%	$68,050 +9.8%	$72,750 +9.9%	$77,450 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$65,700 +9.8%	$75,100 +9.8%	$84,500 +9.8%	$93,850 +9.8%	$101,400 +9.9%	$108,900 +9.8%	$116,400 +9.8%	$123,900 +9.8%

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.