Income Limits are set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) every fiscal year. For more information on Income Limits read on.
Income Limits are used to determine if a family is eligible for HUDs housing assistance programs. Different levels of income have access to different assistance programs.
There are three main categories for Income Limits, Low Income (L80), Very Low Income (L50), and Extremely Low Income (L30). These Income Limits also have an increased cap depending on the number of people per family.
To learn more about exactly how Income Limits are established click here.
Average Income Limits by state
The map below shows average Income Limits in each state. Click on the map to see a detailed breakdown by county.
States(51)
Overseas Territories (4)
Income Limits Tables
2023 National Averages
Extremely Low Income
Very Low Income
Low Income
Median
| People per household | Lowest Income Limit | Highest Income Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $14,793 (Mississippi) | $31,650 (District of Columbia) |
| 2 | $19,720 (Mississippi) | $36,200 (District of Columbia) |
| 3 | $24,860 (Arkansas) | $40,700 (District of Columbia) |
| 4 | $29,647 (Louisiana) | $45,200 (District of Columbia) |
| 5 | $33,665 (Louisiana) | $48,850 (District of Columbia) |
| 6 | $37,196 (Mississippi) | $52,450 (District of Columbia) |
| 7 | $40,065 (Mississippi) | $56,790 (Alaska) |
| 8 | $42,848 (Mississippi) | $62,777 (Alaska) |
| People per household | Lowest Income Limit | Highest Income Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $22,811 (Mississippi) | $52,750 (District of Columbia) |
| 2 | $26,060 (Mississippi) | $60,300 (District of Columbia) |
| 3 | $29,309 (Mississippi) | $67,850 (District of Columbia) |
| 4 | $32,548 (Mississippi) | $75,350 (District of Columbia) |
| 5 | $35,168 (Mississippi) | $81,400 (District of Columbia) |
| 6 | $37,778 (Mississippi) | $87,450 (District of Columbia) |
| 7 | $40,390 (Mississippi) | $93,450 (District of Columbia) |
| 8 | $43,000 (Mississippi) | $99,500 (District of Columbia) |
| People per household | Lowest Income Limit | Highest Income Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $36,470 (Mississippi) | $67,866 (Massachusetts) |
| 2 | $41,663 (Mississippi) | $77,566 (Massachusetts) |
| 3 | $46,886 (Mississippi) | $87,251 (Massachusetts) |
| 4 | $52,067 (Mississippi) | $96,916 (Massachusetts) |
| 5 | $56,256 (Mississippi) | $104,693 (Massachusetts) |
| 6 | $60,433 (Mississippi) | $112,458 (Massachusetts) |
| 7 | $64,579 (Mississippi) | $120,201 (Massachusetts) |
| 8 | $68,755 (Mississippi) | $127,969 (Massachusetts) |
| Lowest Income | Highest Income |
|---|---|
| $62,038 (Mississippi) | $152,100 (District of Columbia) |
Breaking Down Income Limits
The HUD develops Income Limits in order to determine what families qualify for its assistance programs. Income Limits act as a hard cutoff for assistance qualification. If a family exceeds an Income Limit category they are not eligible for specific assistance programs.
What are the Types of Income Limits?
There are three major Income Limit Categories:
- Extremely Low Income (L30)
- Very Low Income (L50)
- Low Income (L80)
The lowest Income Limit bracket you qualify for is the income bracket your family is considered part of. Lower income brackets have access to more assistance programs.
To view Income Limits for your area please click here to return to the map and select your state then county. Alternatively use the sidebar nav to select your state and county to view your area's data.
Which Assistance Programs use Income Limits for Eligibility?
The following HUD assistance programs use Income Limits as a major determining factor when considering a family's eligibility:
- Section 8 project-based
- Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
- Section 202 housing for the elderly
- Section 811 housing for persons with disabilities
How are Income Limits Established?
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) creates Income Limits each fiscal year. HUD sets Income Limits based on Fair Market Rents (FMRs) and Median Family income estimates. Income Limits are defined using FMRs that represent entire metropolitan areas, parts of metropolitan areas, and non-metropolitan counties.
Low Income (L80)
L80 Income Limits are defined based on 80 percent of the median family income for a specific area/county.
Very Low Income (L50)
L50 Income Limits are defined based on 50 percent of the median family income for a specific area/county.
Extremely Low Income (L30)
L30 Income Limits are defined based on 30 percent of the median family income for a specific area/county.
How do Income Limits Vary by Family Size?
Income Limits for all three categories vary based on family size. Click here to view the tables above and see family size Income Limit variation up to eight family members.
For families larger than eight members a consistent formula is used to calculate the Income Limit for each limit type. Income Limits for families larger than eight members are calculated by adding 8% of the four-person Income Limit for each additional family member.
four-person Income Limit × (1 + .08 × (number of family members − 4)) = Income Limit for large families
The Income Limit for families larger than eight members must be rounded to the nearest $50.00.
If your family consisted of 11 members and the L30 for a four-person family for your area was $20,005.00 we would have:
$20,005.00 × (1 + .08 × (11 − 4)) =
$20,005.00 × (1.56) = $31,207.80
$31,207.80 would then be rounded to the nearest $50.00
Any amount < $25.00 gets rounded down to $0.00 while any amount ≥ $25.00 gets rounded up to $50.00
since $7.80 < $25.00 it gets rounded to $0.00.
The L30 for an 11 person family in your area would be $31,200.00.
Income Limit History (2006 - 2023)
The graph shows minimum and maximum Income Limits for low income, 3 person, households in each year since 2023.
Want to Learn More?
- Loan Limits to learn about conventional loans
- Fair Market Rents to learn about FMRs
- Property Taxes to learn about Property Taxes
- Housing Authorites to learn about Housing Authorities
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Data Source
Income Limits are estimated by the HUD. Section 8 data was created by benefits.gov.