Marathon 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).

$1,2172-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9401-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$82,90080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$103,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Marathon County is $1,217 a month, up 6.1% from $1,147 in FY2026. Marathon County belongs to the Wausau, 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 Marathon County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$847	$791	+7.1%	$763 – $931
1 bedroom	$940	$889	+5.7%	$846 – $1,034
2 bedrooms	$1,217	$1,147	+6.1%	$1,096 – $1,338
3 bedrooms	$1,590	$1,511	+5.2%	$1,431 – $1,749
4 bedrooms	$1,599	$1,519	+5.3%	$1,440 – $1,758

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 Marathon County that is typically $1,096 to $1,338 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?

$46,817median income of renter households

$999Median gross rent, all units

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

42%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $46,817 can afford about $1,170 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,217 is $47 (4.0%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $48,680 a year under the 30% rule, or $43,812 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Marathon County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$999 ±$28
Median income of renter households	$46,817 ±$3,408
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	42.0% ±4.3
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	17.5% ±2.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	14,320

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$758	$999	+31.8%
Median renter household income	$36,503	$46,817	+28.3%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	36.9%	42.0%	+5.1 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 $1,040 to $1,830 depending on the ZIP code.

All 31 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
54401	$860	$960	$1,240	$1,620	$1,630
54402	$850	$940	$1,220	$1,590	$1,600
54403	$850	$940	$1,220	$1,590	$1,600
54405	$850	$880	$1,110	$1,420	$1,530
54408	$720	$810	$1,040	$1,360	$1,370
54409	$740	$810	$1,040	$1,360	$1,370
54411	$730	$810	$1,050	$1,370	$1,420
54412	$730	$810	$1,040	$1,360	$1,370
54414	$730	$820	$1,040	$1,360	$1,370
54417	$830	$900	$1,170	$1,520	$1,550
54421	$770	$810	$1,040	$1,360	$1,410
54425	$820	$840	$1,040	$1,360	$1,470
54426	$720	$810	$1,040	$1,360	$1,370
54427	$820	$920	$1,160	$1,520	$1,530
54429	$850	$940	$1,220	$1,590	$1,600
54440	$730	$810	$1,050	$1,370	$1,380
54443	$720	$810	$1,040	$1,360	$1,370
54448	$720	$810	$1,040	$1,360	$1,370
54449	$780	$830	$1,090	$1,400	$1,450
54451	$750	$810	$1,040	$1,360	$1,500
54452	$760	$810	$1,040	$1,360	$1,410
54455	$900	$1,000	$1,300	$1,690	$1,710
54471	$1,270	$1,410	$1,830	$2,390	$2,410
54473	$720	$810	$1,040	$1,360	$1,370
54474	$800	$890	$1,150	$1,500	$1,510
54476	$860	$950	$1,230	$1,610	$1,620
54479	$730	$810	$1,040	$1,360	$1,370
54480	$860	$920	$1,190	$1,480	$1,710
54484	$850	$940	$1,220	$1,590	$1,600
54488	$760	$810	$1,040	$1,360	$1,400
54499	$740	$830	$1,040	$1,360	$1,370

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

HUD income limits for Marathon County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $103,600 (FY2025: $98,800, +4.9%). 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%)	$21,800 +4.8%	$24,900 +4.8%	$28,000 +4.9%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$36,300 +4.9%	$41,450 +4.8%	$46,650 +4.8%	$51,800 +4.9%	$55,950 +4.8%	$60,100 +4.8%	$64,250 +4.8%	$68,400 +4.8%
Low income (80%)	$58,050 +4.9%	$66,350 +4.9%	$74,650 +4.9%	$82,900 +4.9%	$89,550 +4.9%	$96,200 +4.9%	$102,800 +4.8%	$109,450 +4.9%

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.