Rock 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).

$1,2802-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9981-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$76,80080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$94,500Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Rock County is $1,280 a month, up 2.7% from $1,246 in FY2026. Rock County belongs to the Janesville-Beloit, 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 Rock County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$976	$900	+8.4%	$879 – $1,073
1 bedroom	$998	$955	+4.5%	$899 – $1,097
2 bedrooms	$1,280	$1,246	+2.7%	$1,152 – $1,408
3 bedrooms	$1,621	$1,596	+1.6%	$1,459 – $1,783
4 bedrooms	$1,682	$1,650	+1.9%	$1,514 – $1,850

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 Rock County that is typically $1,152 to $1,408 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?

$46,704median income of renter households

$1,037Median 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 $46,704 can afford about $1,168 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,280 is $112 (9.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $51,200 a year under the 30% rule, or $46,080 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Rock County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,037 ±$27
Median income of renter households	$46,704 ±$1,851
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	42.9% ±3.1
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.2% ±2.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	18,156

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$838	$1,037	+23.7%
Median renter household income	$35,283	$46,704	+32.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	44.8%	42.9%	−1.9 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 $1,130 to $1,690 depending on the ZIP code.

All 22 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
53114	$810	$860	$1,130	$1,440	$1,770
53190	$820	$900	$1,170	$1,490	$1,810
53501	$980	$1,000	$1,280	$1,630	$1,690
53502	$820	$860	$1,130	$1,440	$1,490
53505	$1,220	$1,290	$1,690	$2,160	$2,240
53511	$980	$1,010	$1,290	$1,630	$1,700
53512	$980	$1,000	$1,280	$1,620	$1,680
53520	$810	$860	$1,130	$1,440	$1,490
53521	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53525	$970	$1,000	$1,280	$1,620	$1,770
53534	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260
53536	$960	$980	$1,260	$1,600	$1,660
53537	$810	$860	$1,130	$1,440	$1,490
53538	$820	$940	$1,180	$1,600	$1,610
53545	$1,010	$1,040	$1,330	$1,680	$1,750
53546	$990	$1,010	$1,300	$1,650	$1,710
53547	$980	$1,000	$1,280	$1,620	$1,680
53548	$970	$990	$1,270	$1,610	$1,670
53563	$910	$930	$1,190	$1,510	$1,560
53576	$1,050	$1,080	$1,380	$1,750	$1,810
53585	$860	$950	$1,240	$1,550	$2,040
53589	$1,150	$1,340	$1,530	$2,020	$2,260

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

HUD income limits for Rock County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $94,500 (FY2025: $98,600, −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%)	$20,200 +1.8%	$23,050 +1.5%	$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%)	$33,600 +1.5%	$38,400 +1.6%	$43,200 +1.5%	$48,000 +1.6%	$51,850 +1.6%	$55,700 +1.5%	$59,550 +1.6%	$63,400 +1.6%
Low income (80%)	$53,800 +1.6%	$61,450 +1.6%	$69,150 +1.6%	$76,800 +1.6%	$82,950 +1.6%	$89,100 +1.6%	$95,250 +1.6%	$101,400 +1.6%

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.