Racine 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).

$1,2832-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0361-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$83,45080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$104,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Racine County is $1,283 a month, up 3.9% from $1,235 in FY2026. Racine County belongs to the Racine-Mount Pleasant, 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 Racine County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$926	$851	+8.8%	$834 – $1,018
1 bedroom	$1,036	$988	+4.9%	$933 – $1,139
2 bedrooms	$1,283	$1,235	+3.9%	$1,155 – $1,411
3 bedrooms	$1,639	$1,592	+3.0%	$1,476 – $1,802
4 bedrooms	$1,984	$1,962	+1.1%	$1,786 – $2,182

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 Racine County that is typically $1,155 to $1,411 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?

$47,129median income of renter households

$1,080Median gross rent, all units

27%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

43%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $47,129 can afford about $1,178 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,283 is $105 (8.9%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $51,320 a year under the 30% rule, or $46,188 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Racine County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,080 ±$26
Median income of renter households	$47,129 ±$3,348
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	43.1% ±3.1
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	21.3% ±2.6
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	21,928

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$857	$1,080	+26.0%
Median renter household income	$31,927	$47,129	+47.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	48.9%	43.1%	−5.8 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 $1,190 to $1,680 depending on the ZIP code.

All 20 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
53105	$980	$1,050	$1,320	$1,710	$2,060
53108	$1,150	$1,280	$1,590	$2,030	$2,460
53120	$1,170	$1,290	$1,680	$2,100	$2,770
53126	$980	$1,100	$1,360	$1,740	$2,100
53138	$920	$1,030	$1,280	$1,640	$1,980
53139	$1,130	$1,250	$1,550	$2,000	$2,400
53144	$1,100	$1,100	$1,390	$1,890	$2,150
53149	$990	$1,060	$1,270	$1,570	$1,770
53150	$1,100	$1,180	$1,410	$1,740	$1,870
53167	$970	$1,060	$1,340	$1,710	$2,080
53177	$1,160	$1,280	$1,590	$2,040	$2,460
53182	$980	$1,090	$1,350	$1,730	$2,090
53185	$1,050	$1,170	$1,450	$1,850	$2,240
53401	$920	$1,030	$1,280	$1,640	$1,980
53402	$950	$1,070	$1,320	$1,690	$2,040
53403	$980	$1,040	$1,290	$1,710	$1,990
53404	$860	$960	$1,190	$1,520	$1,840
53405	$860	$960	$1,190	$1,520	$1,840
53406	$910	$1,020	$1,260	$1,610	$1,950
53408	$920	$1,030	$1,280	$1,640	$1,980

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

HUD income limits for Racine County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $104,300 (FY2025: $98,600, +5.8%). 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%)	$21,950 +5.8%	$25,050 +5.7%	$28,200 +5.8%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$36,550 +5.8%	$41,750 +5.8%	$46,950 +5.7%	$52,150 +5.8%	$56,350 +5.8%	$60,500 +5.8%	$64,700 +5.8%	$68,850 +5.8%
Low income (80%)	$58,450 +5.8%	$66,800 +5.8%	$75,150 +5.8%	$83,450 +5.8%	$90,150 +5.7%	$96,850 +5.8%	$103,500 +5.8%	$110,200 +5.8%

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.