Polk 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).

$1,1212-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8571-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$78,25080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$97,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Polk County is $1,121 a month, up 2.2% from $1,097 in FY2026. Polk County belongs to the Polk County, WI FMR area (non-metro county), 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 Polk County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$781	$756	+3.3%	$703 – $859
1 bedroom	$857	$836	+2.5%	$772 – $942
2 bedrooms	$1,121	$1,097	+2.2%	$1,009 – $1,233
3 bedrooms	$1,437	$1,357	+5.9%	$1,294 – $1,580
4 bedrooms	$1,705	$1,669	+2.2%	$1,535 – $1,875

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 Polk County that is typically $1,009 to $1,233 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?

$47,788median income of renter households

$957Median 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 $47,788 can afford about $1,195 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,121 is $74 (6.2%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $44,840 a year under the 30% rule, or $40,356 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Polk County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$957 ±$45
Median income of renter households	$47,788 ±$3,443
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	36.5% ±4.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	16.0% ±2.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	3,212

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$756	$957	+26.6%
Median renter household income	$31,995	$47,788	+49.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	42.0%	36.5%	−5.5 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.

HUD income limits for Polk County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $97,800 (FY2025: $97,500, +0.3%). 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%)	$20,550 +0.2%	$23,500 +0.4%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$34,250 +0.3%	$39,150 +0.4%	$44,050 +0.3%	$48,900 +0.3%	$52,850 +0.4%	$56,750 +0.4%	$60,650 +0.3%	$64,550 +0.3%
Low income (80%)	$54,800 +0.4%	$62,600 +0.3%	$70,450 +0.4%	$78,250 +0.3%	$84,550 +0.4%	$90,800 +0.3%	$97,050 +0.3%	$103,300 +0.3%

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.