How to Use HUD Income Limits 2024 (And Do Your Own “Calculator” for Your Area)

If you’re trying to figure out whether your income fits HUD’s 2024 limits for low-income housing, there is no single “universal HUD calculator” that works for every place. Instead, your income limit depends on your county/metro area, household size, and program type, and you have to plug your own numbers into HUD’s official tools or your local housing authority portal.

Below is how to quickly check your 2024 HUD income limit step-by-step, what to prepare, and where to go if you’re stuck.

Quick way to “calculate” your 2024 HUD income limit

HUD income limits define what counts as extremely low, very low, and low income for your area, and housing agencies use those numbers to decide if you qualify for programs like Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) or public housing.

Here’s the basic process to get your own “calculator-style” answer:

• Find your area’s 2024 HUD income limit using the HUD Income Limits search tool or your local housing authority website.
• Select your county or metro area and household size (everyone who will live in the unit, not just wage earners).
• Compare your gross yearly household income (before taxes) to HUD’s chart.
• See which category you fall into (extremely low, very low, low income).
• Use that category when you talk to your public housing authority (PHA) or apply for rental assistance.

Rules and cutoffs can vary by location and program, so always verify with your local housing authority before making decisions.

Key terms to know

Key terms to know:

• Area Median Income (AMI) — The middle income level for your metro area or county; HUD builds its income limits off percentages of AMI.
• Extremely Low Income — Typically about 30% of AMI for your area, adjusted for family size; used for the most deeply subsidized housing.
• Very Low Income — Typically about 50% of AMI, adjusted for family size; commonly used for Housing Choice Vouchers and many HUD programs.
• Low Income — Typically about 80% of AMI, adjusted for family size; often used for some affordable housing units and homeownership programs.

When you see a “HUD income limits 2024 calculator” online, it is usually just doing this: pulling the right AMI percentage for your area, then comparing it to your household’s annual gross income.

Where to go to check your 2024 HUD income limits

The official systems that actually handle HUD income limits and housing programs are:

• Local public housing authorities (PHAs) / housing authority offices
• HUD’s income limits lookup tool and HUD field offices

Here’s how to find and use them:

1. Search for your local housing authority’s official portal.
   Use a search phrase like “housing authority” plus your city or county name, and look for websites that end in .gov or are clearly listed as “Housing Authority of [City/County].”

2. Use HUD’s income limits lookup tool.
   Search for “HUD income limits 2024” and choose the result that leads to HUD’s official government page (ending in .gov), then select your state, county or metro area, and 2024 as the year.

3. Call your local housing authority or HUD field office if you’re unsure.
   Use the customer service number listed on the official site and say something like: “I’d like to confirm the 2024 HUD income limits you use for [program name, if you know it] for a household of [X] in [your city/county].”

These official system touchpoints are where staff actually apply the income limits to determine eligibility for vouchers, public housing, and other HUD-assisted housing.

Documents you’ll typically need

To use HUD income limits correctly and to apply for housing programs that use them, you’ll commonly be asked to show official proof of your income and household.

Documents you’ll typically need:

• Recent pay stubs (usually last 4–6 weeks of pay) or earnings statements for each working adult in the household.
• Last year’s federal tax return or W-2/1099 forms to verify your annual income, especially if your income changes during the year.
• Photo ID and household proof such as a driver’s license or state ID plus birth certificates or Social Security cards for everyone in the household.

Housing authorities may also ask for Social Security or SSI benefit letters, pension statements, child support orders, or unemployment benefit letters if those apply to you.

Step-by-step: Use HUD’s income limits like a calculator

You can do a simple “calculator” check on your own using HUD’s numbers and your income documents.

1. Identify your area and program

First, you need to know what area and program you care about, because the income cutoffs may differ.

1. Confirm your county or metro area.
   HUD groups some counties into metro areas; if you live near a big city, assume you’re in its metro area and verify that in the HUD tool.

2. Decide which program you’re looking at.
   Commonly: Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8), public housing, or project-based Section 8 apartments; each may use the same HUD income chart but sometimes apply it differently.

3. Contact your local housing authority if you’re not sure which chart they use.
   Ask: “For 2024, which HUD income limits are you using for your voucher and public housing programs in [your area]?”

What to expect next: Staff typically point you to the exact income limit chart they use or email/mail you a copy, and may tell you what category (extremely low / very low / low) they prioritize for openings.

2. Gather your income information

To compare your income to HUD’s limits, you need your household’s total gross annual income, not just one person’s pay.

1. Add up gross pay from all jobs.
   Use your pay stubs to find gross pay (before taxes and deductions) for each working adult, then multiply by how often you’re paid to estimate your yearly gross income.

2. Include non-wage income.
   Add Social Security, SSI, unemployment, pensions, child support you receive, and other regular income; housing authorities often require documentation for each source.

3. Confirm household size.
   Count everyone who will live in the assisted unit, including children, even if they have no income.

What to expect next: You’ll have a single number—your total annual gross household income—and a household size number; you’ll use both to read HUD’s chart.

3. Look up your 2024 HUD income limits

Now you’re ready to match your numbers to HUD’s official limits for your area.

1. Open HUD’s 2024 income limits tool.
   From an official HUD .gov site, select Income Limits and then choose 2024 as the year.

2. Select your state and county/metro area.
   The tool will usually generate a PDF or web table showing income limits for household sizes 1–8 (sometimes more) across categories like 30% (extremely low), 50% (very low), and 80% (low) of AMI.

3. Find the row for your household size and the column for the category relevant to your program.
   For example, many voucher programs use the very low income (50%) line to screen new applicants.

What to expect next: You’ll see specific dollar amounts, such as “Very Low Income: $X for 3-person household”; these are the official limits your housing authority typically references.

4. Compare your income to the 2024 limits

This is the “calculator” moment where you line up your income with HUD’s numbers.

1. Match your household size to HUD’s line.
   For example, if you’re a family of 4, use the “4 persons” row.

2. Compare your annual gross income to each category.
   Check whether it is below the “Extremely Low,” below the “Very Low,” or below the “Low” income amount.

3. Note your category.
   For example, you might discover “We are under the very low income limit but above the extremely low income limit for our county.”

What to expect next: You can tell the housing authority staff, “Our 2024 income is approximately $X for a [household size] in [county], which looks like it falls under the [category] limit in the HUD table.”

5. Ask your housing authority how your category is used

Different programs and locations may prioritize different income categories.

1. Contact your local housing authority office.
   Use the phone number or office address from their official .gov or housing authority website.

2. Ask how your income category affects eligibility or waitlist.
   You can say: “Based on the HUD 2024 chart, we’re [very low income / extremely low income] for a family of [X] in [area]. How does that affect my eligibility and position on your waiting list for vouchers or public housing?”

3. Ask what to do next if you appear eligible.
   Common next steps are filling out a pre-application, joining a waiting list, or waiting for the list to open.

What to expect next: Housing authority staff typically explain whether their waitlists are open, which programs might fit your income category, and what application or verification steps come next; they will not guarantee approval or timing.

Real-world friction to watch for

Real-world friction to watch for

A frequent snag is that HUD’s income limit charts and the numbers your local housing authority actually uses can seem out of sync, especially if HUD has just released new limits or your area has special rules. If you notice a difference between the HUD 2024 chart and what the housing authority staff tell you, ask directly which effective date and income limit document they are using and request a copy; they often have local guidance or implementation timelines that explain the discrepancy.

Scam warnings and how to get legitimate help

Because HUD income limits connect directly to housing and rental assistance, scammers often build fake “calculator” or “Section 8 application” sites that try to collect fees or personal information.

Watch for these safety tips:

• Never pay a fee just to check income limits or to “apply for HUD.” Checking HUD limits and getting on official housing authority waiting lists is typically free.
• Use only official housing authority or HUD websites. Look for .gov addresses or housing authority sites clearly linked from a government page.
• Do not send documents or Social Security numbers through unofficial portals or social media. Always verify you’re on the correct government site or speaking to an official office before sharing sensitive information.

If you need help understanding your income category or the 2024 limits for your area, legitimate assistance options include:

• Local housing authority office (PHA) — Front desk or intake staff can usually print or explain the specific income limits they use and how they apply to your situation.
• HUD-approved housing counseling agencies — These nonprofits are often listed through HUD and can help you understand eligibility, prepare documents, and plan next steps.
• Legal aid or tenants’ rights organizations — In some areas, they provide guidance if your housing assistance is denied or you think income limits were applied incorrectly.

A concrete action you can take today is to look up your county’s 2024 HUD income limits on the official HUD tool, calculate your household’s annual gross income using your recent pay stubs and benefit letters, and then call your local housing authority to confirm how they use those limits for their current programs and waiting lists. Once you’ve done that, you’ll know exactly where you stand and which official step—joining a waitlist, applying for a program, or adjusting your plan—to take next.