Question 1

Which USDA loan program is this for?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

What is the income limit for a USDA loan?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

How are USDA income limits calculated?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 6

Whose income counts toward the USDA income limit?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 10

How often do USDA income limits change?

Accepted Answer

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.

USDA Loan Income Limits Map

Adjusted Annual Income Is What USDA Actually Checks

Unadjusted household income

Adjusted annual income

Adjusted income vs the limit

USDA Eligibility by State

More USDA resources

Check USDA eligibility

Do I qualify?

Property eligibility map

USDA loan explained

Is a $0 down USDA loan right for you?

USDA Income Limits FAQ

Which USDA loan program is this for?

What is the income limit for a USDA loan?

How are USDA income limits calculated?

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

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

Whose income counts toward the USDA income limit?

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

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

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

How often do USDA income limits change?

USDA Loan Income Limits Map

Verify Your Property Address for $0 Down

Adjusted Annual Income Is What USDA Actually Checks

Unadjusted household income

Adjusted annual income

Adjusted income vs the limit

USDA Eligibility by State

More USDA resources

Check USDA eligibility

Do I qualify?

Property eligibility map

USDA loan explained

Is a $0 down USDA loan right for you?

USDA Income Limits FAQ

Which USDA loan program is this for?

What is the income limit for a USDA loan?

How are USDA income limits calculated?

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

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

Whose income counts toward the USDA income limit?

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

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

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

How often do USDA income limits change?