Alabama · FIPS 01069 · HUD FY 2027
Houston County, Alabama Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Houston County is $966 a month (rent plus utilities), 17% below the Alabama average of $1,170 and 45% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $16 (1.7%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $38,640 a year to afford it.
- $9662-bedroom FMR+$16 (+1.7%) vs FY 2026
- $7681-bedroom FMRAlabama: $1,010 · U.S.: $1,478
- $38,640Income for a 2-bedroom$19/hour full-time
- 35 of 672BR rank in Alabama1 = highest rent
| Unit | Houston County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Alabama avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $763 | $757 | +$6 (+0.8%) | $949 | $1,379 | $30,520 |
| 1 bedroom | $768 | $762 | +$6 (+0.8%) | $1,010 | $1,478 | $30,720 |
| 2 bedrooms | $966 | $950 | +$16 (+1.7%) | $1,170 | $1,761 | $38,640 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,291 | $1,288 | +$3 (+0.2%) | $1,500 | $2,266 | $51,640 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,415 | $1,428 | −$13 (−0.9%) | $1,728 | $2,607 | $56,600 |
How Houston County compares
- HUD sets this rent for the Dothan, AL metro FMR area, which covers 135,027 residents in 2 counties.
- Across Alabama, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $921 (Winston County) to $1,434 (Baldwin County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $763, $768, $966, $1,291, $1,415. HUD derives the other sizes from the 2-bedroom figure with fixed ratios, adjusted where local data warrant.
- HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area FMRs. For the 10 ZIP codes mostly in Houston County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $920 to $1,250.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Houston County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36301 | $730 | $730 | $920 | $1,230 | $1,350 | +$10 (+1.1%) | 5% below |
| 36303 | $760 | $770 | $960 | $1,290 | $1,420 | no change | 1% below |
| 36305 | $990 | $990 | $1,250 | $1,670 | $1,830 | −$10 (−0.8%) | 29% above |
| 36312 | $730 | $730 | $920 | $1,230 | $1,350 | +$20 (+2.2%) | 5% below |
| 36320 | $740 | $750 | $940 | $1,260 | $1,380 | +$40 (+4.4%) | 3% below |
| 36321 | $730 | $740 | $930 | $1,240 | $1,360 | +$30 (+3.3%) | 4% below |
| 36343 | $770 | $770 | $970 | $1,300 | $1,420 | −$50 (−4.9%) | about the same as |
| 36352 | $700 | $780 | $920 | $1,250 | $1,420 | +$110 (+13.6%) | 5% below |
| 36370 | $730 | $730 | $920 | $1,230 | $1,350 | +$110 (+13.6%) | 5% below |
| 36376 | $730 | $730 | $920 | $1,230 | $1,350 | +$10 (+1.1%) | 5% below |
Sources
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD User Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 FMRs (file dated August 26, 2026) and FY 2026 FMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- HUD User Small Area Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 SAFMRs (file dated August 31, 2026) and FY 2026 SAFMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- ZIP-to-county assignment: Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA-to-county relationship file (file dated December 9, 2021), largest land-area overlap.
Fair Market Rents are HUD’s estimate of gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a modest unit, set at the 40th percentile of recent-mover rents. FY 2027 is HUD’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. Housing authorities set voucher payment standards from these figures; check yours.