FY2027 Fair Market Rent · Washington
Cowlitz County Fair Market Rent & Income Limits
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Cowlitz County, WA is $1,398 a month, down 3.7% from FY2026. The area median family income is $106,700, and a family of four counts as low income up to $83,350 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 Cowlitz County, WA.
Low income (80% limit)
A household of 4 earning $81,350 is under the 80% limit of $83,350 for this area. At 30% of income it could pay about $2,034 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 Cowlitz County
HUD's FY2026 income limits for Longview-Kelso, WA are based on a median family income of $106,700. 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 | $21,900 | $36,500 | $43,800 | $58,350 |
| 2 | $25,000 | $41,700 | $50,040 | $66,700 |
| 3 | $28,150 | $46,900 | $56,280 | $75,050 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $52,100 | $62,520 | $83,350 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $56,300 | $67,560 | $90,050 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $60,450 | $72,540 | $96,700 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $64,650 | $77,580 | $103,400 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $68,800 | $82,560 | $110,050 |
HERA Special area. Tax-credit properties placed in service before 2009 may use HUD's higher HERA hold-harmless 60% limits here: $64,380 for four people, against the regular $62,520.
Rent history
Since FY2017 the two-bedroom FMR here has gone from $745 to $1,398, up 87.7% over ten years. HUD has published a two-bedroom FMR for this area since FY1983, when it was $364.
What it takes to afford the rent
To keep a two-bedroom rent of $1,398 at no more than 30% of income, the usual affordability rule, a household needs about $55,900 a year. That is 52% of the area median family income of $106,700, so a typical family can afford it with room to spare.
| Unit | FY2027 | FY2026 | FY2025 | Income to affordat 30% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $974 | $1,000 | $963 | $39,000 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,124 | $1,199 | $1,186 | $45,000 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,398 | $1,451 | $1,404 | $55,900 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,936 | $2,018 | $1,967 | $77,400 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,337 | $2,434 | $2,358 | $93,500 |
How Cowlitz County compares
Cowlitz County makes up the Longview-Kelso, WA metro area on its own, so HUD's metro figures and the county figures are the same.
Cowlitz County has the 24th highest two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of the 39 counties in Washington; the population-weighted average across Washington is $2,044 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 Cowlitz County the two-bedroom figure ranges from $1,310 to $1,760 across 10 ZIP codes, against the area-wide $1,398. This area is not on HUD's list of mandatory Small Area FMR areas, so most agencies here use the area-wide FMR; an agency may still opt in to ZIP-level rents.
Questions
What is the Fair Market Rent in Cowlitz County, WA for 2027?
For FY2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027) HUD's Fair Market Rents in Cowlitz County, WA are $974 for a studio, $1,124 for one bedroom, $1,398 for two bedrooms, $1,936 for three and $2,337 for four bedrooms, per month including utilities.
What is the area median income in Cowlitz County, WA?
HUD's FY2026 median family income for the area is $106,700, up 24.8% from $85,500 in FY2025.
What is 80% of AMI in Cowlitz County, WA for a family of 4?
The FY2026 low-income limit (80%) for a household of four is $83,350 a year. The very low-income limit (50%) is $52,100 and the extremely low-income limit is $33,000.
What is the 60% AMI limit for tax credit housing in Cowlitz County, WA?
Under HUD's FY2026 Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits, the 60% limit is $43,800 for one person and $62,520 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: $1,258 to $1,538), and can ask HUD for exceptions. Check the payment standard with your local housing agency.