Income Limits by County

FY2027 Small Area FMR · Sheldahl, IA

ZIP 50243 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 50243 (Sheldahl, IA) is $1,300 a month, up 1.6% from FY2026. That is 23% above the Ames, IA area-wide FMR of $1,061.

2-bedroom SAFMR$1,300per month ▲ 1.6%
Area-wide 2 BR FMR$1,061Ames, IA
Rank in the area2ndof 26 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$1,170
2 BR Small Area FMR$1,300
110% of SAFMR$1,430

Housing agencies may set voucher payment standards anywhere from 90% to 110% of the FMR without asking HUD.

FY2027 FY2026

Where 50243 sits in the Ames, IA area

$930$1,350median $1,040

Of the 26 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 50243 has the 2nd 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 $1,300 for this ZIP code instead.

ZIP code 50243 crosses more than one HUD area. HUD also lists it under Boone 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

Monthly gross rent including utilities
UnitFY2027 SAFMRPayment standard rangeArea-wide FMRFY2026 SAFMR
Studio$1,060$954 – $1,166$891$1,050
1 bedroom$1,110$999 – $1,221$944$1,100
2 bedrooms$1,300$1,170 – $1,430$1,061$1,280
3 bedrooms$1,780$1,602 – $1,958$1,469$1,760
4 bedrooms$1,940$1,746 – $2,134$1,768$1,940

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $1,300 needs about $52,000 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 50243 lies mainly in Polk County, Story County and Boone County. See the Ames, IA county page for the full income limits table and the household check.

Nearby ZIP codes

ZIPPlaceDistance2 BR SAFMR
50244Slater2.5 mi$930
50134Kelley4.8 mi$1,040
50124Huxley4.8 mi$1,350
50226Polk City5.3 mi$930
50156Madrid5.7 mi$990
50007Alleman6.7 mi$1,180

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 50243?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 50243 are $1,060 (studio), $1,110 (1 BR), $1,300 (2 BR), $1,780 (3 BR) and $1,940 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 50243?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 50243 that range is $1,170 to $1,430 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 50243?

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.