La Crosse 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).

$1,3432-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0271-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$84,65080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$105,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in La Crosse County is $1,343 a month, up 15.2% from $1,166 in FY2026. La Crosse County belongs to the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN 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 La Crosse County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$935	$804	+16.3%	$842 – $1,028
1 bedroom	$1,027	$889	+15.5%	$925 – $1,129
2 bedrooms	$1,343	$1,166	+15.2%	$1,209 – $1,477
3 bedrooms	$1,721	$1,515	+13.6%	$1,549 – $1,893
4 bedrooms	$2,167	$1,903	+13.9%	$1,951 – $2,383

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 La Crosse County that is typically $1,209 to $1,477 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?

$49,338median income of renter households

$1,059Median gross rent, all units

26%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

44%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $49,338 can afford about $1,233 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,343 is $110 (8.9%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $53,720 a year under the 30% rule, or $48,348 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

La Crosse County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,059 ±$31
Median income of renter households	$49,338 ±$2,203
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	43.6% ±3.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.6% ±3.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	18,595

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$835	$1,059	+26.8%
Median renter household income	$36,078	$49,338	+36.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	44.4%	43.6%	−0.8 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 $1,050 to $1,550 depending on the ZIP code.

All 25 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
54601	$970	$1,070	$1,400	$1,790	$2,260
54602	$950	$1,040	$1,360	$1,740	$2,190
54603	$840	$920	$1,210	$1,550	$1,950
54614	$840	$920	$1,200	$1,540	$1,940
54619	$770	$890	$1,110	$1,460	$1,720
54623	$890	$990	$1,270	$1,600	$1,920
54636	$1,020	$1,120	$1,470	$1,880	$2,370
54642	$860	$940	$1,240	$1,490	$1,780
54644	$910	$1,010	$1,310	$1,660	$2,040
54650	$1,050	$1,150	$1,510	$1,930	$2,440
54653	$920	$1,020	$1,320	$1,710	$2,080
54656	$730	$830	$1,050	$1,370	$1,720
54658	$870	$980	$1,250	$1,560	$1,850
54661	$960	$970	$1,270	$1,660	$1,720
54667	$840	$940	$1,210	$1,510	$1,770
54669	$1,080	$1,180	$1,550	$1,990	$2,500
55919	$730	$810	$1,050	$1,370	$1,720
55921	$730	$810	$1,050	$1,370	$1,720
55931	$730	$810	$1,050	$1,370	$1,720
55941	$800	$880	$1,150	$1,470	$1,860
55943	$770	$850	$1,110	$1,410	$1,760
55947	$860	$950	$1,240	$1,580	$1,980
55954	$770	$810	$1,050	$1,370	$1,720
55971	$840	$850	$1,110	$1,440	$1,720
55974	$860	$950	$1,240	$1,590	$1,990

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

HUD income limits for La Crosse County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $105,800 (FY2025: $109,200, −3.1%). 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%)	$22,250 −1.3%	$25,400 −1.6%	$28,600 −1.4%	$33,000 +2.5%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$37,050 −1.5%	$42,350 −1.5%	$47,650 −1.4%	$52,900 −1.5%	$57,150 −1.5%	$61,400 −1.4%	$65,600 −1.5%	$69,850 −1.5%
Low income (80%)	$59,300 −1.4%	$67,750 −1.5%	$76,200 −1.5%	$84,650 −1.5%	$91,450 −1.5%	$98,200 −1.5%	$105,000 −1.5%	$111,750 −1.5%

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.