Iowa · FIPS 19179 · HUD FY 2027
Wapello County, Iowa Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Wapello County is $1,076 a month (rent plus utilities), 3% below the Iowa average of $1,113 and 39% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $8 (0.7%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $43,040 a year to afford it.
- $1,0762-bedroom FMR+$8 (+0.7%) vs FY 2026
- $8231-bedroom FMRIowa: $902 · U.S.: $1,478
- $43,040Income for a 2-bedroom$21/hour full-time
- 18 of 992BR rank in Iowa1 = highest rent
| Unit | Wapello County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Iowa avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $799 | $793 | +$6 (+0.8%) | $846 | $1,379 | $31,960 |
| 1 bedroom | $823 | $814 | +$9 (+1.1%) | $902 | $1,478 | $32,920 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,076 | $1,068 | +$8 (+0.7%) | $1,113 | $1,761 | $43,040 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,409 | $1,354 | +$55 (+4.1%) | $1,475 | $2,266 | $56,360 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,414 | $1,468 | −$54 (−3.7%) | $1,649 | $2,607 | $56,560 |
How Wapello County compares
- Wapello 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: $799, $823, $1,076, $1,409, $1,414. 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 7 ZIP codes mostly in Wapello County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $970 to $1,300.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Wapello County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52501 | $800 | $830 | $1,080 | $1,410 | $1,420 | +$10 (+0.9%) | about the same as |
| 52530 | $970 | $990 | $1,300 | $1,700 | $1,710 | +$240 (+22.6%) | 21% above |
| 52536 | $720 | $740 | $970 | $1,220 | $1,330 | +$50 (+5.4%) | 10% below |
| 52548 | $800 | $830 | $1,080 | $1,410 | $1,420 | +$10 (+0.9%) | about the same as |
| 52553 | $770 | $790 | $1,040 | $1,330 | $1,360 | no change | 3% below |
| 52554 | $740 | $750 | $980 | $1,220 | $1,360 | +$50 (+5.4%) | 9% below |
| 52566 | $790 | $810 | $1,060 | $1,380 | $1,390 | no change | 1% 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.