Iowa · FIPS 19021 · HUD FY 2027
Buena Vista County, Iowa Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Buena Vista County is $1,031 a month (rent plus utilities), 7% below the Iowa average of $1,113 and 41% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $21 (2.1%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $41,240 a year to afford it.
- $1,0312-bedroom FMR+$21 (+2.1%) vs FY 2026
- $7881-bedroom FMRIowa: $902 · U.S.: $1,478
- $41,240Income for a 2-bedroom$20/hour full-time
- 23 of 992BR rank in Iowa1 = highest rent
| Unit | Buena Vista County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Iowa avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $781 | $765 | +$16 (+2.1%) | $846 | $1,379 | $31,240 |
| 1 bedroom | $788 | $770 | +$18 (+2.3%) | $902 | $1,478 | $31,520 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,031 | $1,010 | +$21 (+2.1%) | $1,113 | $1,761 | $41,240 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,284 | $1,240 | +$44 (+3.5%) | $1,475 | $2,266 | $51,360 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,355 | $1,337 | +$18 (+1.3%) | $1,649 | $2,607 | $54,200 |
How Buena Vista County compares
- Buena Vista County is a non-metro county, so HUD sets one Fair Market Rent for the whole county.
- Across Iowa, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $927 (Worth County) to $1,450 (Harrison County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $781, $788, $1,031, $1,284, $1,355. 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 8 ZIP codes mostly in Buena Vista County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $930 to $1,320.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Buena Vista County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50510 | $720 | $720 | $950 | $1,180 | $1,250 | +$30 (+3.3%) | 8% below |
| 50565 | $800 | $800 | $1,050 | $1,310 | $1,380 | −$30 (−2.8%) | 2% above |
| 50568 | $710 | $720 | $930 | $1,150 | $1,220 | +$10 (+1.1%) | 10% below |
| 50576 | $810 | $820 | $1,070 | $1,340 | $1,400 | +$40 (+3.9%) | 4% above |
| 50585 | $700 | $710 | $930 | $1,170 | $1,220 | −$20 (−2.1%) | 10% below |
| 50588 | $780 | $790 | $1,030 | $1,280 | $1,350 | +$20 (+2.0%) | about the same as |
| 50592 | $1,000 | $1,010 | $1,320 | $1,640 | $1,730 | +$310 (+30.7%) | 28% above |
| 51002 | $840 | $850 | $1,110 | $1,380 | $1,460 | +$10 (+0.9%) | 8% above |
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.