The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development calculates income limits to determine whether households are eligible for federally-funded housing assistance programs, including public housing, Section 8 project-based, Housing Choice Vouchers, and others. These limits are created using American Community Survey data on household incomes from the Census Bureau.
Using the median family income as the “Area Median Income” (AMI), HUD produces income limits for 30, 50, and 80 percent of AMI, further broken down by number of persons within a household. These levels correspond to common terms to describe these income ranges:
- Between 80 and 50 percent AMI is low-income,
- Between 50 and 30 percent AMI is very low-income, and
- Below 30 percent AMI is extremely low-income.
Income limits for localities in metropolitan areas are provided at that regional level, so a central city and adjacent suburban county will often share AMI values. Non-metropolitan localities have their AMI limits calculated separately.
Next scheduled update: 2024 Q2.
HUD AMI limits
This dashboard shows HUD AMI limits by income category and household size for every locality in Virginia. If a locality is in an area where AMI values are set regionally, the chart title will display that geography’s name. Prior year AMI limits are shown back to 2017.
Additional resources
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Answers to frequently asked questions about income limit use and methodology.
Multifamily Tax Subsidy Projects (MTSP) Income Limits
Additional income limits published by HUD as guidance for LIHTC program and other projects where rent rates are set using AMI limits at additional income levels, such as 60 percent of AMI.
Virginia Housing
Official income limits for rental properties supported by Virginia Housing’s conventional loan, tax credit, and tax-exempt bond programs.
Income and Sales Price / Loan Limits
Maximum income and sales price / loan values for Virginia Housing first-time homebuyer programs.
