Fair Market Rents: Cerro Gordo County, IA (FY2026)
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for Cerro Gordo County set the ceiling for what Housing Choice Vouchers pay locally. FMR equals the estimated 40th-percentile gross rent — shelter plus utilities — for modest, non-luxury units.
| Unit size | FY2026 FMR | IA median* |
|---|---|---|
| Studio (0-BR) | $746/mo | $682 (+9%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $750/mo | $745 (+1%) |
| 2 Bedrooms | $949/mo | $919 (+3%) |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,226/mo | $1,222 (0%) |
| 4+ Bedrooms | $1,446/mo | $1,356 (+7%) |
*Median across all FMR-publishing counties in IA. Source: HUD FY2026 FMR schedule.
Using FMR as a voucher holder in Cerro Gordo County
- Your housing authority sets payment standards per bedroom, typically 90–110% of these figures. How payment standards work →
- You may rent above the standard by paying the difference, subject to a 40%-of-income cap at lease-up.
- In high-cost pockets, ask about exception standards or Small Area FMRs by ZIP code.
Subsidized housing in Cerro Gordo County
We track 16 assisted properties countywide:
| City | Properties | Assisted units |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Lake | 5 | 159 |
| Mason City | 13 | 548 |