FY2027 Fair Market Rent · Iowa
Polk County Fair Market Rent & Income Limits
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Polk County, IA is $1,360 a month, up 3.2% from FY2026. The area median family income is $116,400, and a family of four counts as low income up to $93,100 a year.
Fair Market Rent by unit size
FY2027 FY2026
Fair Market Rents are gross rents: rent plus the cost of all utilities except phone, cable and internet.
Check your household
Enter your household size and total yearly income before taxes to see which HUD income category it falls in for Polk County, IA.
Low income (80% limit)
A household of 4 earning $91,100 is under the 80% limit of $93,100 for this area. At 30% of income it could pay about $2,278 a month for rent and utilities.
This is a quick comparison with HUD's published limits, not an eligibility decision. Programs count income in their own ways and many have waiting lists; the local housing agency or property decides.
Income limits in Polk County
HUD's FY2026 income limits for Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA are based on a median family income of $116,400. Programs such as Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing and HOME use the 30%, 50% and 80% columns; Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties use the 50% and 60% Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits.
| People | Extremely low30% / poverty | Very low50% | 60% (LIHTC)MTSP | Low income80% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $24,450 | $40,750 | $48,900 | $65,200 |
| 2 | $27,950 | $46,600 | $55,920 | $74,500 |
| 3 | $31,450 | $52,400 | $62,880 | $83,800 |
| 4 | $34,900 | $58,200 | $69,840 | $93,100 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $62,900 | $75,480 | $100,550 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $67,550 | $81,060 | $108,000 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $72,200 | $86,640 | $115,450 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $76,850 | $92,220 | $122,900 |
HERA Special area. Tax-credit properties placed in service before 2009 may use HUD's higher HERA hold-harmless 60% limits here: $70,020 for four people, against the regular $69,840.
Rent history
Since FY2017 the two-bedroom FMR here has gone from $824 to $1,360, up 65.0% over ten years. HUD has published a two-bedroom FMR for this area since FY1983, when it was $367.
What it takes to afford the rent
To keep a two-bedroom rent of $1,360 at no more than 30% of income, the usual affordability rule, a household needs about $54,400 a year. That is 47% of the area median family income of $116,400, so a typical family can afford it with room to spare.
| Unit | FY2027 | FY2026 | FY2025 | Income to affordat 30% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,102 | $1,063 | $954 | $44,100 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,145 | $1,109 | $1,017 | $45,800 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,360 | $1,318 | $1,216 | $54,400 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,856 | $1,794 | $1,632 | $74,200 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,901 | $1,841 | $1,638 | $76,000 |
How Polk County compares
Polk County is part of the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HUD Metro FMR Area, together with Dallas County, Guthrie County, Madison County and Warren County. HUD publishes one Fair Market Rent and one set of income limits for the whole area, so the numbers on this page apply in every county of it.
Polk County has the 7th highest two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of the 99 counties in Iowa; the population-weighted average across Iowa is $1,113 and the nationwide average is $1,751.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code
HUD also publishes Small Area Fair Market Rents for each ZIP code. In Polk County the two-bedroom figure ranges from $930 to $1,690 across 45 ZIP codes, against the area-wide $1,360. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is one of HUD's mandatory Small Area FMR areas (designated 2023), so housing agencies there must set voucher payment standards from these ZIP-code rents.
| ZIP | Place | 2 BR SAFMR | 110% payment std. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50021 | Ankeny | $1,690 | $1,859 |
| 50324 | Windsor Heights | $1,610 | $1,771 |
| 50131 | Johnston | $1,540 | $1,694 |
| 50023 | Ankeny | $1,460 | $1,606 |
| 50009 | Altoona | $1,440 | $1,584 |
| 50327 | Pleasant Hill | $1,440 | $1,584 |
| 50032 | Berwick | $1,430 | $1,573 |
| 50309 | Des Moines | $1,430 | $1,573 |
| 50035 | Bondurant | $1,400 | $1,540 |
| 50322 | Urbandale | $1,400 | $1,540 |
| 50111 | Grimes | $1,380 | $1,518 |
| 50073 | Elkhart | $1,340 | $1,474 |
| 50301 | Des Moines | $1,340 | $1,474 |
| 50302 | Des Moines | $1,340 | $1,474 |
| 50303 | Des Moines | $1,340 | $1,474 |
| 50304 | Des Moines | $1,340 | $1,474 |
| 50305 | Des Moines | $1,340 | $1,474 |
| 50318 | Des Moines | $1,340 | $1,474 |
| 50319 | Des Moines | $1,340 | $1,474 |
| 50363 | Des Moines | $1,340 | $1,474 |
| 50368 | Des Moines | $1,340 | $1,474 |
| 50380 | Des Moines | $1,340 | $1,474 |
| 50391 | Des Moines | $1,340 | $1,474 |
| 50395 | Des Moines | $1,340 | $1,474 |
| 50947 | Des Moines | $1,340 | $1,474 |
| 50321 | Des Moines | $1,330 | $1,463 |
| 50265 | West Des Moines | $1,320 | $1,452 |
| 50320 | Des Moines | $1,320 | $1,452 |
| 50325 | Clive | $1,310 | $1,441 |
| 50243 | Sheldahl | $1,300 | $1,430 |
| 50313 | Des Moines | $1,290 | $1,419 |
| 50315 | Des Moines | $1,290 | $1,419 |
| 50310 | Des Moines | $1,270 | $1,397 |
| 50312 | Des Moines | $1,260 | $1,386 |
| 50317 | Des Moines | $1,260 | $1,386 |
| 50311 | Des Moines | $1,200 | $1,320 |
| 50007 | Alleman | $1,180 | $1,298 |
| 50316 | Des Moines | $1,180 | $1,298 |
| 50314 | Des Moines | $1,160 | $1,276 |
| 50109 | Granger | $1,120 | $1,232 |
| 50161 | Maxwell | $1,000 | $1,100 |
| 50169 | Mitchellville | $960 | $1,056 |
| 50226 | Polk City | $930 | $1,023 |
| 50244 | Slater | $930 | $1,023 |
| 50237 | Runnells | $930 | $1,023 |
Questions
What is the Fair Market Rent in Polk County, IA for 2027?
For FY2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027) HUD's Fair Market Rents in Polk County, IA are $1,102 for a studio, $1,145 for one bedroom, $1,360 for two bedrooms, $1,856 for three and $1,901 for four bedrooms, per month including utilities.
What is the area median income in Polk County, IA?
HUD's FY2026 median family income for the area is $116,400, up 1.7% from $114,500 in FY2025.
What is 80% of AMI in Polk County, IA for a family of 4?
The FY2026 low-income limit (80%) for a household of four is $93,100 a year. The very low-income limit (50%) is $58,200 and the extremely low-income limit is $34,900.
What is the 60% AMI limit for tax credit housing in Polk County, IA?
Under HUD's FY2026 Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits, the 60% limit is $48,900 for one person and $69,840 for four. Some older tax-credit properties here use higher HERA hold-harmless limits.
Is the Fair Market Rent the same as the Section 8 payment standard?
No. Housing agencies set their payment standard between 90% and 110% of the FMR (for a two-bedroom here: $1,224 to $1,496), and can ask HUD for exceptions. Check the payment standard with your local housing agency.