How to Use the HUD Public Housing Income Limit Checker
This tool mirrors Korea's national rental housing income test, but uses the real U.S. system: HUD's Area Median Income (AMI) framework. Instead of a single cutoff, HUD defines three standard income tiers used across public housing and Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers — Extremely Low Income (up to 30% of AMI), Very Low Income (30-50% of AMI), and Low Income (50-80% of AMI). Falling within any of these tiers generally makes a household eligible to apply, though extremely low income households often receive priority.
Enter your total household income and the AMI figure published for your household size and metro area (available on HUD's website or from your local Public Housing Authority) to see your income as a percentage of AMI, which tier you fall into, and your general eligibility for these programs.
Meeting the income limit is only the first step — public housing and Section 8 waiting lists in many cities run for years, and Public Housing Authorities can apply local preferences (veteran status, homelessness, disability, or local residency) that affect your place in line. Check with your local PHA for actual waiting list status and any additional requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
The underlying idea is the same — comparing household income to a published median-income benchmark — but the exact percentages and benchmark differ. Korea uses urban worker average income; the U.S. uses HUD's Area Median Income (AMI), with three standard tiers: extremely low (30% AMI), very low (50% AMI), and low income (80% AMI).
HUD publishes income limits annually by metro area and household size on its website, and your local Public Housing Authority (PHA) can also provide the exact figure used for their waiting list.
No. Meeting the income limit only makes you eligible to apply. Public housing and Section 8 waiting lists are often years long, and some PHAs give local preference to specific groups (veterans, people experiencing homelessness, etc.).