Section 8 Rent in ZIP 50020
FY2027 Fair Market Rent for ZIP 50020 in Cass County, Iowa: HUD rent benchmarks by bedroom size, an illustrative percentage range, the housing authorities that administer vouchers here, and whether a landlord can legally decline a voucher in Iowa.
What does the HUD rent benchmark measure in ZIP 50020?
HUD's Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents for standard-quality units occupied by recent movers. Small Area FMRs provide ZIP-level estimates. These are not arithmetic average asking rents or approved voucher payments. For FY2027, that benchmark is $730 for a one-bedroom and $930 for a two-bedroom in ZIP 50020. Actual asking rents and adopted agency payment standards can differ. The full HUD benchmark table is above.
What changed from FY2026 to FY2027 in ZIP 50020
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for ZIP 50020 fell from $940 in FY2026 to $930 in FY2027, a change of -$10 a month (-1.1%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $700 | $690 | -$10 (-1.4%) |
| 1-bedroom | $740 | $730 | -$10 (-1.4%) |
| 2-bedroom | $940 | $930 | -$10 (-1.1%) |
| 3-bedroom | $1,300 | $1,280 | -$20 (-1.5%) |
| 4-bedroom | $1,530 | $1,530 | $0 (0%) |
The FMR is not what the voucher pays. Each housing authority sets its own payment standard. The basic range is 90% to 110% of the applicable FMR or SAFMR, with exceptions and Moving to Work policies that may differ. A HUD effective date is not a household rent-change notice. Confirm the adopted schedule and its application to your lease or reexamination with your agency.
Already renting with a voucher in ZIP 50020? Under standard HCV rules, a lower payment standard does not cut your subsidy right away. Moving to Work agencies may use different policies. The housing authority may keep your current payment standard for as long as you stay in the same unit. If it decides to lower it, the reduction cannot start sooner than two years after the decrease takes effect, and only after it sends you the required notice (24 CFR 982.505(c)(3)). Families who are new to the program, or who move to a different unit, get the schedule in effect at that time.
Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 and FY2027, huduser.gov.
Illustration: 90% to 110% of the HUD benchmark (2 BR)
These percentages illustrate the basic payment-standard range, not a verified agency schedule. ZIP-based policies, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules can differ.
Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities. Ask your administering agency for the adopted standard and household affordability calculation; neither the HUD benchmark nor this illustration is a lease approval.
ZIP vs county FMR (2 BR)
ZIP 50020 at $930 is $3 higher than the Cass County county-wide 2 BR FMR of $927. This is a comparison of HUD benchmarks. It does not establish the agency's adopted standard or the assistance available to a particular household.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in ZIP 50020?
Yes. Iowa law blocks local governments from requiring voucher acceptance, so landlords in ZIP 50020 can legally decline Section 8 applicants. Listing on a voucher-friendly marketplace is the fastest way to find the landlords who do accept.
Iowa Code §§331.304(13), 364.3(13) (2021)
Voided Des Moines, Iowa City and Marion ordinances as of January 1, 2023. PRRAC Appendix B (March 2026).
View statute →Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in ZIP 50020?
- For ZIP 50020 in Cass County, IA, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $930 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of this HUD benchmark is roughly $835 to $1,025. This modeled range is not the agency's adopted schedule. The agency calculates assistance using its applicable standard, household income and unit details; gross rent includes the allowance for tenant-paid utilities.
- What are the FY2027 HUD rent benchmarks for ZIP 50020?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for ZIP 50020, by bedroom size: studio $690, 1-bedroom $730, 2-bedroom $930, 3-bedroom $1,280, 4-bedroom $1,530. A ZIP benchmark helps compare locations but does not establish what a voucher pays. The administering agency's adopted schedule, program rules and household calculation determine assistance.
Find Section 8 apartments in ZIP 50020
VoucherMatch connects voucher holders with landlords who accept Section 8, and it is free for renters. The administering housing authority must approve the actual unit, rent and household assistance calculation.
Landlord and investor tools for Cass County
RentalCalcsFree calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.
- Cass County rental market dataRents, home prices, cap rates and cash flow estimates for investors.
- Section 8 rent analyzerHUD rent benchmarks and modeled comparisons for Iowa ZIP codes. Confirm adopted amounts with the agency.
- Compare HUD benchmarks with market rent in IowaExplore modeled ZIP comparisons; these do not establish an approved rent or agency payment.
- Average rent in IowaMarket rent versus HUD fair market rent by city and bedroom count.
- How Section 8 rent is calculatedFair market rent, payment standards and rent reasonableness, step by step.
- Section 8 landlord math for 2026What the payment standard changes mean for cash flow this year.
SAFMR data published by HUD for FY2027. ZIP 50020 maps to Cass County, IA · FIPS 19029. Investors can run these numbers in the RentalCalcs voucher analyzer.