Fair Market Rents: Lake County, IN (FY2026)
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for Lake 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 | IN median* |
|---|---|---|
| Studio (0-BR) | $959/mo | $768 (+25%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,082/mo | $824 (+31%) |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,317/mo | $1,009 (+31%) |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,612/mo | $1,330 (+21%) |
| 4+ Bedrooms | $1,744/mo | $1,535 (+14%) |
*Median across all FMR-publishing counties in IN. Source: HUD FY2026 FMR schedule.
Using FMR as a voucher holder in Lake 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 Lake County
We track 90 assisted properties countywide:
| City | Properties | Assisted units |
|---|---|---|
| East Chicago | 15 | 1,845 |
| Gary | 53 | 5,684 |
| Hammond | 17 | 1,611 |
| Hobart | 3 | 200 |
| Merrillville | 16 | 599 |