Section 8 Rent Limits in Wisconsin for FY2027: Fair Market Rent for Every County
What Section 8 pays in Wisconsin depends on the county. HUD sets a Fair Market Rent for each of the state's 72 counties (grouped into 20 metro and non-metro FMR areas), and every housing authority in Wisconsin builds its payment standard from that figure. For fiscal year 2027, the 2-bedroom FMR runs from $1,014 in Adams County to $1,734 in St. Croix County, about half again as much. The statewide median county sits at $1,039.
Year over year, 63 of the 72 counties with figures in both years went up and 9 went down. La Crosse County had the biggest jump, $1,166 to $1,343 (+15.2%). Dane County took the biggest cut, $1,694 to $1,565 (-7.6%). No metro in Wisconsin is on HUD's mandatory Small Area FMR list, so these county figures are the base everywhere in the state unless a housing authority has opted into ZIP-level standards.
How the number becomes your rent limit. The FMR is HUD's estimate of the 40th-percentile gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a modest unit in the area. Your housing authority publishes a payment standard for each bedroom size, between 90% and 110% of the FMR. You pay roughly 30% of adjusted monthly income; the voucher covers the rest up to the payment standard. If the unit's gross rent is above the standard, you pay the difference, but a new lease cannot leave your share above 40% of income.
FY2027 Fair Market Rents by Metro Area in Wisconsin
HUD groups counties into FMR areas; a metro's figure applies to every county inside it. "ZIP-level" marks mandatory Small Area FMR metros.
| FMR area | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2 BR vs FY2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | $918 | $986 | $1,256 | $1,739 | $1,952 | +1.6% |
| Columbia County, WI | $791 | $868 | $1,136 | $1,573 | $1,623 | -4.9% |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $841 | $961 | $1,207 | $1,671 | $2,017 | -2.0% |
| Eau Claire, WI | $1,014 | $1,017 | $1,259 | $1,695 | $1,701 | +6.6% |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $852 | $983 | $1,224 | $1,560 | $1,736 | +4.1% |
| Green Bay, WI | $979 | $1,028 | $1,287 | $1,697 | $1,765 | +10.6% |
| Green County, WI | $798 | $806 | $1,016 | $1,211 | $1,335 | -7.4% |
| Iowa County, WI | $830 | $836 | $1,093 | $1,460 | $1,827 | -6.4% |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $976 | $998 | $1,280 | $1,621 | $1,682 | +2.7% |
| Kenosha, WI | $1,136 | $1,144 | $1,441 | $1,956 | $2,228 | +2.8% |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $935 | $1,027 | $1,343 | $1,721 | $2,167 | +15.2% |
| Madison, WI | $1,196 | $1,375 | $1,565 | $2,047 | $2,264 | -7.6% |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $985 | $1,060 | $1,263 | $1,553 | $1,664 | -5.6% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $1,265 | $1,427 | $1,734 | $2,264 | $2,538 | +1.5% |
| Oconto County, WI | $774 | $844 | $1,014 | $1,375 | $1,380 | +4.2% |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $909 | $936 | $1,195 | $1,609 | $1,646 | +4.0% |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $926 | $1,036 | $1,283 | $1,639 | $1,984 | +3.9% |
| Sheboygan, WI | $813 | $918 | $1,168 | $1,392 | $1,575 | +4.7% |
| Vernon County, WI | $764 | $856 | $1,097 | $1,364 | $1,603 | +12.7% |
| Wausau, WI | $847 | $940 | $1,217 | $1,590 | $1,599 | +6.1% |
FY2027 Fair Market Rents for Every County in Wisconsin
All 72 counties, alphabetical. Studio figures are in the metro table above.
| County | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2 BR vs FY2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | $868 | $1,014 | $1,269 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| Ashland County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,543 | +4.2% |
| Barron County | $785 | $1,027 | $1,324 | $1,700 | +4.4% |
| Bayfield County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,328 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| Brown County | $1,028 | $1,287 | $1,697 | $1,765 | +10.6% |
| Buffalo County | $779 | $1,019 | $1,214 | $1,563 | +4.7% |
| Burnett County | $786 | $1,028 | $1,225 | $1,500 | +5.5% |
| Calumet County | $986 | $1,256 | $1,739 | $1,952 | +1.6% |
| Chippewa County | $1,017 | $1,259 | $1,695 | $1,701 | +6.6% |
| Clark County | $825 | $1,014 | $1,292 | $1,450 | +4.2% |
| Columbia County | $868 | $1,136 | $1,573 | $1,623 | -4.9% |
| Crawford County | $931 | $1,014 | $1,208 | $1,340 | +4.2% |
| Dane County | $1,375 | $1,565 | $2,047 | $2,264 | -7.6% |
| Dodge County | $880 | $1,100 | $1,458 | $1,464 | +1.9% |
| Door County | $969 | $1,268 | $1,511 | $1,666 | +11.1% |
| Douglas County | $961 | $1,207 | $1,671 | $2,017 | -2.0% |
| Dunn County | $820 | $1,042 | $1,407 | $1,742 | +1.8% |
| Eau Claire County | $1,017 | $1,259 | $1,695 | $1,701 | +6.6% |
| Florence County | $813 | $1,063 | $1,316 | $1,453 | +5.6% |
| Fond du Lac County | $983 | $1,224 | $1,560 | $1,736 | +4.1% |
| Forest County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,281 | $1,362 | +4.2% |
| Grant County | $803 | $1,014 | $1,249 | $1,694 | +4.2% |
| Green County | $806 | $1,016 | $1,211 | $1,335 | -7.4% |
| Green Lake County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,220 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| Iowa County | $836 | $1,093 | $1,460 | $1,827 | -6.4% |
| Iron County | $830 | $1,014 | $1,262 | $1,604 | +4.2% |
| Jackson County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,208 | $1,447 | +4.2% |
| Jefferson County | $958 | $1,209 | $1,635 | $1,652 | +4.6% |
| Juneau County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,240 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| Kenosha County | $1,144 | $1,441 | $1,956 | $2,228 | +2.8% |
| Kewaunee County | $1,028 | $1,287 | $1,697 | $1,765 | +10.6% |
| La Crosse County | $1,027 | $1,343 | $1,721 | $2,167 | +15.2% |
| Lafayette County | $839 | $1,014 | $1,352 | $1,560 | +4.2% |
| Langlade County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,208 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| Lincoln County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,304 | $1,403 | +4.2% |
| Manitowoc County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,208 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| Marathon County | $940 | $1,217 | $1,590 | $1,599 | +6.1% |
| Marinette County | $785 | $1,014 | $1,208 | $1,518 | +4.2% |
| Marquette County | $822 | $1,014 | $1,299 | $1,380 | +4.2% |
| Menominee County | $931 | $1,014 | $1,364 | $1,369 | +4.2% |
| Milwaukee County | $1,060 | $1,263 | $1,553 | $1,664 | -5.6% |
| Monroe County | $833 | $1,039 | $1,383 | $1,469 | +0.3% |
| Oconto County | $844 | $1,014 | $1,375 | $1,380 | +4.2% |
| Oneida County | $943 | $1,027 | $1,289 | $1,445 | +1.4% |
| Outagamie County | $986 | $1,256 | $1,739 | $1,952 | +1.6% |
| Ozaukee County | $1,060 | $1,263 | $1,553 | $1,664 | -5.6% |
| Pepin County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,403 | $1,526 | +4.2% |
| Pierce County | $1,427 | $1,734 | $2,264 | $2,538 | +1.5% |
| Polk County | $857 | $1,121 | $1,437 | $1,705 | +2.2% |
| Portage County | $828 | $1,077 | $1,283 | $1,415 | +3.9% |
| Price County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,215 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| Racine County | $1,036 | $1,283 | $1,639 | $1,984 | +3.9% |
| Richland County | $849 | $1,014 | $1,283 | $1,491 | +4.2% |
| Rock County | $998 | $1,280 | $1,621 | $1,682 | +2.7% |
| Rusk County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,296 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| Sauk County | $996 | $1,168 | $1,448 | $1,577 | +5.1% |
| Sawyer County | $832 | $1,089 | $1,298 | $1,431 | +3.6% |
| Shawano County | $843 | $1,014 | $1,328 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| Sheboygan County | $918 | $1,168 | $1,392 | $1,575 | +4.7% |
| St. Croix County | $1,427 | $1,734 | $2,264 | $2,538 | +1.5% |
| Taylor County | $788 | $1,014 | $1,259 | $1,461 | +4.2% |
| Trempealeau County | $810 | $1,059 | $1,386 | $1,392 | +7.2% |
| Vernon County | $856 | $1,097 | $1,364 | $1,603 | +12.7% |
| Vilas County | $788 | $1,022 | $1,218 | $1,343 | +5.0% |
| Walworth County | $994 | $1,300 | $1,625 | $2,142 | +7.8% |
| Washburn County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,208 | $1,333 | +4.0% |
| Washington County | $1,060 | $1,263 | $1,553 | $1,664 | -5.6% |
| Waukesha County | $1,060 | $1,263 | $1,553 | $1,664 | -5.6% |
| Waupaca County | $815 | $1,014 | $1,328 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| Waushara County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,306 | $1,512 | +4.2% |
| Winnebago County | $936 | $1,195 | $1,609 | $1,646 | +4.0% |
| Wood County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,299 | $1,357 | +4.2% |
Where the Limit Moved Most From FY2026 to FY2027
Biggest increases (2-bedroom):
| County | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse County | $1,166 | $1,343 | +15.2% |
| Vernon County | $973 | $1,097 | +12.7% |
| Door County | $1,141 | $1,268 | +11.1% |
| Brown County | $1,164 | $1,287 | +10.6% |
| Kewaunee County | $1,164 | $1,287 | +10.6% |
Biggest cuts (2-bedroom):
| County | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dane County | $1,694 | $1,565 | -7.6% |
| Green County | $1,097 | $1,016 | -7.4% |
| Iowa County | $1,168 | $1,093 | -6.4% |
| Milwaukee County | $1,338 | $1,263 | -5.6% |
| Ozaukee County | $1,338 | $1,263 | -5.6% |
HUD caps a one-year decrease at 10%, so a county showing exactly -10.0% hit the floor. A lower FMR does not change an existing lease; it narrows the band for new leases and rent increases, and a reduced payment standard reaches a family already housed only at its second annual reexamination after the change.
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Where a Voucher Beats the Market in Wisconsin
Comparing HUD's 2-bedroom limit to Zillow's observed rent in the same ZIP code shows where a voucher actually stretches. No Wisconsin metro with enough data has a positive median: Madison comes closest, with the typical ZIP's limit -1.6% against market rent and 42% of its ZIPs above the going rent; Milwaukee-Waukesha is the hardest at -8.3%. "Median premium" is the typical ZIP's rent limit minus market rent, as a percent of market rent.
| Metro | ZIPs with data | Median premium | ZIPs above market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | 24 | -1.6% | 42% |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 56 | -8.3% | 30% |
Even where the median is negative, the ZIPs above market are where voucher tenants and landlords match fastest. The national ranking is in our voucher-vs-market analysis.
The Largest Housing Authorities in Wisconsin
Which authority issued your voucher decides which payment standard applies. The biggest programs in the state:
- Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (Milwaukee), about 7,700 vouchers, (414) 286-5678
- Brown County Housing Authority (Green Bay), about 3,600 vouchers, (920) 770-0450
- Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (Madison), about 3,600 vouchers, (608) 266-7884
- Milwaukee Co Dhhs - Housing Division (Milwaukee), about 2,100 vouchers, (414) 289-6542
- Madison Community Development Authority (Madison), about 2,100 vouchers, (608) 266-4675
- Housing Authority of Racine County (Racine), about 1,700 vouchers, (262) 636-3405
- Dane County Housing Authority (Madison), about 1,400 vouchers, (608) 224-3636
- Waukesha Housing Authority (Waukesha), about 1,300 vouchers, (262) 542-2262
Can a Landlord Refuse a Voucher in Wisconsin?
Yes, in most of the state. Wisconsin has a source-of-income law (Wis. Stat. §106.50 (lawful source of income)), but it does not cover housing vouchers, so a landlord can decline one unless a local ordinance says otherwise. Local ordinances that do cover vouchers: Milwaukee County.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Section 8 pay in Wisconsin? It depends on the county. HUD's FY2027 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent runs from $1,014 in Adams County to $1,734 in St. Croix County, with a median county of $1,039. Your housing authority's payment standard is 90% to 110% of the figure for your county, and the voucher pays that standard minus about 30% of your adjusted income.
Which Wisconsin county has the highest Section 8 rent limit? St. Croix County, at $1,734 for a 2-bedroom ($2,264 for a 3-bedroom) in FY2027. The lowest is Adams County at $1,014.
Did Section 8 rent limits go up in Wisconsin for FY2027? Mostly yes: the 2-bedroom figure rose in 63 counties, fell in 9, and held in 0. The biggest increase was La Crosse County (+15.2%). The biggest cut was Dane County (-7.6%).
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Wisconsin? Yes, in most of the state. Wisconsin has a source-of-income law (Wis. Stat. §106.50 (lawful source of income)), but it does not cover housing vouchers, so a landlord can decline one unless a local ordinance says otherwise. Local ordinances that do cover vouchers: Milwaukee County.
Where is my housing authority's actual payment standard? On the authority's website, usually a one-page PDF updated each fall, or by calling its Housing Choice Voucher office. The largest Wisconsin authorities are listed above with phone numbers.
See also our Wisconsin Section 8 overview; metro guides for Milwaukee, Madison; the national 2-bedroom table for the 40 largest metros; HUD's FY2027 FMR dataset.
Holding a voucher in Wisconsin? Browse voucher-friendly listings by ZIP code and bedroom size.
Wisconsin landlord? List your property free. The table above is what a voucher tenant's authority can pay.
VoucherMatch Editorial Team
Every rule, date and dollar amount in this article is checked against the agency document it comes from, and the sources are listed above. How VoucherMatch articles are researched and corrected
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