New FY 2026 Income Limits- what's changed for Northwest Arkansas?
By Sophie McAdara, Programs and Operations Manager
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has released the FY 2026 Income Limits- what's changed for Northwest Arkansas?
Income limits increased 5% across all household sizes, up from 3.6% last year, reflecting continued economic growth in our region. The area median income for a household of 4 is now $106,900. Home prices are also rising, though more slowly than incomes. Benton County median sales prices rose 3.1% and Washington County saw 4.7% growth.
Using mid-year 2025 county data, the MSA median home sale price sits at approximately $368,000.
The continued challenge: a household would need to earn roughly $113,600 annually to purchase that home with 5% down at current interest rates. That's above the 2026 AMI for a family of 4.
For those at 80% AMI ($85,500 for a family of 4), the gap is even wider: about $28,000 per year in qualifying income. These updated numbers do mean that programs like the Bring It Home CLT are in a stronger position than last year to connect income-qualified residents with a path to ownership.
So, here's to continuing to work together to find solutions for every stage of a community memberโs housing-life cycle!