USDA Loan Income Limits Map

Loading USDA map…
Loading USDA map…

Maine - 04073 - York County

Likely eligible for $0 down

1–4 person mod. income guaranteed loan income limit $153,5505–8 person mod. income guaranteed loan income limit $202,700
Standard Floor: $122,800Mid-Tier: $122,801–$145,000High-Cost: $145,001–$180,000Elite Zone: $180,001+

Verify Your Property Address for $0 Down

Connect with a lender to get official income verification for $0 down.

Adjusted Annual Income Is What USDA Actually Checks

Income is the #1 reason USDA applications are denied. Gross pay over the map limit does not always mean you are out. USDA first totals household income, then subtracts allowable deductions. The result is adjusted annual income. That is the number compared to the 2026 limit for the property ZIP.

Example: family of four in a standard-floor area

Two working parents and two kids under 18. Combined pay starts over the $122,800 1–4 person floor. USDA deductions bring adjusted income under the cap.

Step 1

Unadjusted household income

Borrower wages
$78,000
Spouse wages
$53,000
Household income
$131,000
Area income limit (1–4 person)
-$122,800
Over the limit
+$8,200
Step 2

Adjusted annual income

Household income
$131,000
Dependent deduction (2 × $480)
-$960
Childcare ($700/mo)
-$8,400
Adjusted annual income
$121,640
Step 3

Adjusted income vs the limit

Area income limit (1–4 person)
$122,800
Adjusted annual income
-$121,640
Under the limit
-$1,160

This is an example, not a determination. A licensed lender runs the official math on your documents. If you are close to the limit, that conversation is the next step, not a guess from the map.

Have a lender check my adjusted income

2026 limits use 115% of area median income with a $122,800 floor for a 1–4 person household. Data from the USDA Section 502 Guaranteed Loan Program for moderate income households. Income limits PDF · Area definitions PDF

USDA Eligibility by State

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

How we map ZIP income limits

We use USDA's official income limits PDF, then the official MSA area definitions PDF, and map each Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) to ZIP codes. When a ZIP code encompasses two MSAs, we list both and make a best effort to identify the primary MSA for that ZIP. This map is a preliminary check. If you'd like official verification, see USDA.gov. Official eligibility is decided only through a USDA approved lender.

Updated for USDA's 2026 income limits announcement. Effective July 13, 2026 (Procedure Notice 657).

More USDA resources

Check USDA eligibility

Get your official income and eligibility answer from a USDA-approved lender in minutes.

Get started →

Do I qualify?

The six USDA requirements: property location, household income, occupancy, property type, citizenship, and credit.

Check eligibility →

Property eligibility map

Check whether a specific ZIP code sits in a USDA-eligible rural or suburban area.

Open map →

USDA loan explained

A plain-English guide to how USDA loans work, who qualifies, and the full requirements.

Read guide →
Need a match?

Is a $0 down USDA loan right for you?

Talk with a licensed lender about your income, the property ZIP, and your budget. They can confirm eligibility, compare USDA with other loan types, and walk you through $0 down if you qualify.

Connect with a lender
Couple smiling in front of the new home they bought with a $0-down USDA loan

NMLS-licensed lenders Fast Lender Matching No initial credit impact

Powered by Mortgage Research Center, NMLS #1907 — Trusted since 2002

USDA Income Limits FAQ

Which USDA loan program is this for?

These limits are for the USDA Section 502 Guaranteed Loan Program, which is for moderate income households and delivered through private lenders. That is the $0 down program most buyers use. The income limits here are typically 115% of area median income, with a national floor. USDA also has a Section 502 Direct program for lower income households, with tighter limits. You apply for Direct at a USDA Rural Development office, not through a lender. Direct is not what these limits or this map cover.

What is the income limit for a USDA loan?

For most of the country, the USDA Guaranteed Loan income limit starts at a floor of $122,800 for a 1–4 person household and $162,100 for a 5–8 person household. In higher-cost areas the limits are larger because they are tied to local income. The exact number depends on the property's ZIP code and county, which is why you should look up the limit for the specific area you're buying in rather than relying on a single national figure.

How are USDA income limits calculated?

USDA income limits are based on 115% of the area median income (AMI) for the county where the home is located, with adjustments for household size. USDA sets a national floor so that even low-cost rural areas have a usable limit, then raises it in metro and high-cost regions. Because they're tied to local median income, two homes a few miles apart in different counties can have different limits.

How does this map assign income limits to a ZIP code?

We use USDA's official income limits PDF, then the official MSA area definitions PDF, and map each Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) to ZIP codes. When a ZIP code encompasses two MSAs, we list both and make a best effort to identify the primary MSA for that ZIP. This map is a preliminary check. Official eligibility is decided only through a USDA approved lender.

What's the difference between the 1–4 person and 5–8 person income limit?

USDA uses two household-size brackets. The 1–4 person limit applies to households of one to four people; the 5–8 person limit is roughly 32% higher and applies to households of five to eight people. Larger families get a higher allowance because USDA recognizes the added cost of supporting more dependents. Everyone living in the home generally counts toward household size.

Whose income counts toward the USDA income limit?

USDA counts the income of all adult household members—not just the people on the loan. That includes a spouse, adult children, and other adults living in the home, even if they aren't borrowers. This "household income" test is one of the most common surprises for applicants, so it's worth reviewing with a USDA-approved lender before you apply.

What is USDA adjusted annual income, and how is it different from gross income?

USDA first looks at annual household income (close to gross income for everyone in the home), then calculates adjusted annual income by subtracting allowable deductions—such as $480 per dependent (children under 18, full-time students, and disabled members), childcare costs, certain medical expenses for elderly or disabled households, and a deduction for disabled household members. It's the adjusted figure that's compared to the limit, so families with dependents or qualifying expenses can sometimes qualify even when their gross pay looks too high.

Can I still qualify if my income is over the USDA limit?

Possibly. Because USDA compares your adjusted annual income to the limit, deductions for dependents, childcare, and medical expenses can bring you under it. Income being slightly over the gross limit is the #1 reason applications are denied, but it's also the most fixable. A licensed lender can run the adjusted-income math for free and tell you exactly where you stand before anything is submitted.

Are USDA income limits the same as the property eligibility requirement?

No—USDA loans have two separate tests. First, your household income must be at or under the area limit. Second, the property must be in a USDA-eligible rural or suburban area. You need to pass both. Use the map above to check income limits and property eligibility for the same ZIP code at once.

How often do USDA income limits change?

USDA typically updates income limits once a year as area median incomes are recalculated, though adjustments can happen mid-year. This map uses USDA's 2026 figures from Procedure Notice 657, effective July 13, 2026. Always confirm the current number for your area with a USDA-approved lender, since the official limit can change after you first check.