Walworth 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).

$1,3002-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9941-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$95,10080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$118,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Walworth County is $1,300 a month, up 7.8% from $1,206 in FY2026. Walworth County belongs to the Walworth 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 Walworth County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$905	$831	+8.9%	$815 – $995
1 bedroom	$994	$919	+8.2%	$895 – $1,093
2 bedrooms	$1,300	$1,206	+7.8%	$1,170 – $1,430
3 bedrooms	$1,625	$1,517	+7.1%	$1,463 – $1,787
4 bedrooms	$2,142	$1,956	+9.5%	$1,928 – $2,356

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 Walworth County that is typically $1,170 to $1,430 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?

$51,325median income of renter households

$1,150Median gross rent, all units

27%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 $51,325 can afford about $1,283 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,300 is $17 (1.3%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $52,000 a year under the 30% rule, or $46,800 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Walworth County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,150 ±$34
Median income of renter households	$51,325 ±$4,405
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	42.4% ±3.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	22.8% ±2.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	11,914

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$880	$1,150	+30.7%
Median renter household income	$38,218	$51,325	+34.3%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	45.7%	42.4%	−3.3 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 Walworth County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $118,900 (FY2025: $109,600, +8.5%). 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%)	$25,000 +8.5%	$28,550 +8.3%	$32,100 +8.3%	$35,650 +8.4%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$41,650 +8.5%	$47,600 +8.6%	$53,550 +8.5%	$59,450 +8.5%	$64,250 +8.5%	$69,000 +8.5%	$73,750 +8.5%	$78,500 +8.5%
Low income (80%)	$66,600 +8.5%	$76,100 +8.4%	$85,600 +8.4%	$95,100 +8.4%	$102,750 +8.4%	$110,350 +8.5%	$117,950 +8.5%	$125,550 +8.4%

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.