FY2027 Small Area FMR · Maxwell, IA
ZIP 50161 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards
HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 50161 (Maxwell, IA) is $1,000 a month, up 2.0% from FY2026. That is 6% below the Ames, IA area-wide FMR of $1,061.
Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms
Housing agencies may set voucher payment standards anywhere from 90% to 110% of the FMR without asking HUD.
FY2027 FY2026
Where 50161 sits in the Ames, IA area
Of the 26 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 50161 has the 23rd highest two-bedroom Small Area FMR. Ames, IA is not on HUD's list of mandatory Small Area FMR areas, so voucher payment standards here are normally based on the area-wide FMR of $1,061 for two bedrooms; an agency that opts in to Small Area FMRs would use $1,000 for this ZIP code instead.
ZIP code 50161 crosses more than one HUD area. HUD also lists it under Jasper County, IA (same figures) and Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (same figures). The figure that applies depends on which side of the line the home is.
All unit sizes
| Unit | FY2027 SAFMR | Payment standard range | Area-wide FMR | FY2026 SAFMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $830 | $747 – $913 | $891 | $810 |
| 1 bedroom | $880 | $792 – $968 | $944 | $860 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,000 | $900 – $1,100 | $1,061 | $980 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,380 | $1,242 – $1,518 | $1,469 | $1,350 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,610 | $1,449 – $1,771 | $1,768 | $1,570 |
A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $1,000 needs about $40,000 a year to keep housing costs at 30% of income. The area median family income is $122,400 and the 80% low-income limit for four people is $97,900. ZIP code 50161 lies mainly in Polk County, Story County and Jasper County. See the Ames, IA county page for the full income limits table and the household check.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions
What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 50161?
HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 50161 are $830 (studio), $880 (1 BR), $1,000 (2 BR), $1,380 (3 BR) and $1,610 (4 BR) a month.
What is the Section 8 payment standard in 50161?
Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 50161 that range is $900 to $1,100 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.
Which income limits apply in 50161?
The FY2026 income limits of the Ames, IA area apply: median family income $122,400, low-income (80%) limit $97,900 for a family of four.