Income Limits / Single person

HUD Income Limits 2026 for a Single Person

HUD sets income limits by area, so there is no single national number. For one person, HUD's 2026 Very Low Income limit (50% of area median income, the usual Section 8 voucher cutoff) runs from $23,300 in Santa Cruz County, Arizona to $76,150 in Santa Cruz County, California; the median across 3,170 county-level areas in the 50 states and DC is $32,525. The limits took effect May 1, 2026.

The Extremely Low Income (30%) limit for one person has a median of $19,500 ($15,960 to $45,700), and the Low Income (80%) limit a median of $52,000 ($37,250 to $122,200). In the 50 states and DC the 30% limit is the higher of 30% of the area median or the HHS poverty guideline for the household size (24 CFR 5.603), so 329 areas share the lowest one-person figure, $15,960.

To get a voucher a household generally must be at or below the 50% limit for its size, and at least 75% of the families a housing authority admits to its voucher program from its waiting list each fiscal year must be at or below the 30% limit (24 CFR 982.201).

Rules: 24 CFR 982.201, 24 CFR 5.603. Source: HUD FY income limits, effective May 1, 2026. Income counts gross annual income; your housing authority makes the final determination.

30% · Extremely Low

$19,500

median, one person · $15,960–$45,700

50% · Very Low (Section 8)

$32,525

median, one person · $23,300–$76,150

80% · Low

$52,000

median, one person · $37,250–$122,200

One-person income limits by state, 2026

Each state's median, lowest and highest county-level area for one person, sorted by the median 50% limit. The bar is the median 50% limit drawn to scale against the highest area in the country ($76,150). Open a state for every county and household size.

StateAreas30% median50% median50% range80% median
District of Columbia1$34,900$58,150$58,150$74,800
New Jersey21$29,050$48,450$34,150–$54,200$74,800
Massachusetts23$28,850$48,100$39,250–$63,750$74,800
Hawaii5$28,550$47,600$42,350–$53,900$76,100
Maryland24$28,150$46,900$33,250–$58,150$74,800
Connecticut14$27,150$45,250$43,600–$57,050$72,350
New Hampshire15$26,400$44,000$41,200–$60,000$70,350
Alaska30$23,875$39,775$37,100–$51,200$63,625
Rhode Island7$23,600$39,250$39,250–$48,200$62,800
Delaware3$22,650$37,700$36,150–$42,950$60,350
North Dakota53$22,550$37,500$37,500–$45,800$60,000
Utah29$22,350$37,250$37,250–$58,700$59,550
Vermont14$22,300$37,150$36,650–$43,650$59,425
Nevada17$22,200$36,950$36,000–$40,900$59,100
California58$22,175$36,900$34,000–$76,150$59,025
Washington39$21,700$36,100$33,550–$57,550$57,750
Wyoming23$21,100$35,150$34,800–$52,000$56,250
Minnesota87$20,950$34,900$34,300–$47,550$55,850
New York62$20,950$34,900$31,500–$59,400$55,825
Florida67$20,850$34,700$27,400–$50,200$55,550
Virginia133$20,700$34,500$28,000–$58,150$55,200
South Dakota66$20,625$34,350$33,100–$41,950$54,950
Colorado64$20,450$34,100$34,100–$52,500$54,550
Maine20$20,425$34,025$32,200–$48,700$54,425
Wisconsin72$20,225$33,675$33,600–$47,400$53,875
Iowa99$20,200$33,650$32,950–$42,850$53,850
Nebraska93$19,800$32,950$32,950–$41,200$52,750
Illinois102$19,575$32,575$31,400–$47,550$52,125
Indiana92$19,325$32,175$29,700–$38,650$51,500
Montana56$19,150$31,850$31,850–$45,600$51,000
Pennsylvania67$19,100$31,800$30,200–$42,950$50,900
Ohio88$18,975$31,625$27,650–$49,350$50,600
Oregon36$18,575$30,975$29,300–$44,950$49,550
Idaho44$18,500$30,800$30,800–$41,800$49,300
Kansas105$18,450$30,800$30,000–$39,700$49,250
North Carolina100$17,900$29,850$27,450–$46,350$47,750
Texas254$17,925$29,850$29,300–$48,900$47,750
Arizona15$17,650$29,400$23,300–$39,350$47,050
Michigan83$17,600$29,300$29,300–$48,450$46,850
South Carolina46$17,200$28,625$26,150–$41,150$45,775
Missouri116$17,050$28,450$27,150–$40,750$45,500
Tennessee95$16,900$28,150$27,300–$40,650$45,000
Georgia159$16,750$27,900$26,950–$41,250$44,600
Louisiana64$16,425$27,350$23,700–$36,500$43,750
Oklahoma77$16,350$27,300$26,600–$34,100$43,650
West Virginia55$16,400$27,300$26,300–$44,950$43,700
Alabama67$16,250$27,100$26,000–$40,300$43,350
Kentucky120$16,000$26,675$25,200–$38,500$42,675
New Mexico33$15,960$25,850$25,550–$59,850$41,350
Mississippi82$15,960$25,200$25,200–$34,350$40,350
Arkansas75$15,960$24,900$24,900–$37,450$39,850
American Samoa (territory)1$11,800$19,650$19,650$31,450
Guam (territory)1$19,500$32,450$32,450$51,900
Northern Mariana Isl (territory)1$11,950$19,700$19,700$31,500
Puerto Rico (territory)78$11,800$11,800$9,800–$14,500$18,850
Virgin Islands (territory)3$18,550$30,900$26,900–$41,900$49,400

Highest single area: Santa Cruz County, California ($76,150 at 50%). Lowest in the 50 states and DC: Santa Cruz County, Arizona ($23,300).

An area here is a county, or, where HUD sets limits by town (much of New England), each different set of limits within a county. A HUD metro area that spans several counties counts once per county, and the medians are not weighted by population: 3,170 areas in the 50 states and DC, 84 in the territories.

Territories are listed separately and left out of the national figures. In Puerto Rico, HUD's published one-person 30% limit equals its 50% limit in every area (an extremely low income family is also, by definition, very low income; 24 CFR 5.603).

How the limit grows with household size

Median 50% (Very Low Income) limit across the 3,170 county-level areas in the 50 states and DC.

Household size12345678
Median 50% limit$32,525$37,175$41,825$46,425$50,175$53,875$57,575$61,300

What a one-person voucher pays toward rent

A single person is issued a studio or one-bedroom voucher; the housing authority's subsidy standards decide which (24 CFR 982.402). HUD's FY2027 rent limits, effective October 1, 2026, have a median of $970 for a studio and $1,040 for a one-bedroom across U.S. ZIP codes. Your housing authority sets its payment standard from the figure for your area.

You pay the total tenant payment, the highest of 30% of your adjusted monthly income, 10% of your gross monthly income, the welfare rent where it applies, or the housing authority's minimum rent (24 CFR 5.628); the voucher covers the rest up to the payment standard. Estimate your share with the tenant rent calculator, or look up your ZIP code's payment standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HUD income limit for a single person in 2026?

It depends on where you live. HUD's 2026 Very Low Income (50%) limit for one person runs from $23,300 to $76,150 across the 50 states and DC, with a median of $32,525. The 30% limit has a median of $19,500 and the 80% limit a median of $52,000. Look up your county for the exact figure.

How much can a single person make and still qualify for Section 8?

Generally no more than the Very Low Income (50%) limit for one person in the area where you apply, counted on gross annual income. Because at least 75% of the families a housing authority admits from its waiting list each fiscal year must be at or below the Extremely Low Income (30%) limit (unless HUD approves a lower share), most people admitted are under that lower figure. Housing authorities also apply other requirements and waiting-list preferences, and the housing authority decides eligibility.

Which state has the highest income limit for one person?

Comparing each state's median area at the 50% level, the highest are the District of Columbia ($58,150), New Jersey ($48,450) and Massachusetts ($48,100); Arkansas is lowest ($24,900) among the 50 states and DC. The single highest area is Santa Cruz County, California at $76,150.

What is the income limit for a 2-person household in 2026?

Across the 3,170 county-level areas in the 50 states and DC, the median 50% limit is $32,525 for one person and $37,175 for two. HUD sets a larger limit for each extra person; your county page lists all eight household sizes.

What size voucher does a single person get?

A studio or one-bedroom; the housing authority's written subsidy standards decide which (24 CFR 982.402), and a live-in aide can add a bedroom. HUD's FY2027 rent limits have a median of $970 for a studio and $1,040 for a one-bedroom across U.S. ZIP codes; your housing authority's payment standard is set from the figure for your area.

Next: income limit for your ZIP code · all Section 8 eligibility requirements · open Section 8 waiting lists