Household income limits apply to the County’s Home Ownership and Rental Assistance programs. Households must meet income requirements to qualify for these programs and for Affordable Rental Units in the County. Income limits vary by program and by household size.
Incomes by Percent of Median for Affordable Rental Units
The income limits and maximum rents allowed for most Affordable Rental Units in Arlington County are listed below, effective May 1, 2019. The income and rent limits are based on median income statistics for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Metro Area issued annually by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
If you’re interested in applying for an affordable unit, contact the apartment complex directly as some properties are subject to federal requirements that keep maximum income levels lower than the County levels listed below.
Household Size |
80% |
60% |
50% |
40% |
1 |
$68,000 |
$51,000 |
$42,500 |
$34,000 |
2 |
$77,680 |
$58,260 |
$48,550 |
$38,840 |
3 |
$87,360 |
$65,520 |
$54,600 |
$43,680 |
4 |
$97,040 |
$72,780 |
$60,650 |
$48,520 |
5 |
$104,880 |
$78,660 |
$65,550 |
$52,440 |
6 |
$112,640 |
$84,480 |
$70,400 |
$56,320 |
Record of year-by-year percentage change in Area Median Income since 1997: AMI percent increases 1997 to 2018
Rents by Percent of Median Income for Affordable Rental Units*
Unit Size |
80% |
60% |
50% |
40% |
Efficiency |
$1,700 |
$1,275 |
$1,062 |
$850 |
1 |
$1,942 |
$1,365 |
$1,138 |
$910 |
2 |
$2,184 |
$1,638 |
$1,365 |
$1,092 |
3 |
$2,524 |
$1,893 |
$1,577 |
$1,262 |
4 |
$2,816 |
$2,112 |
$1,760 |
$1,408 |
* Note: If tenants pay for utilities, an estimate of the monthly utility expenditure is deducted from these amounts to arrive at the maximum allowed lease rent
Housing Choice Voucher Program Income Guidelines
In the Housing Choice Voucher Program, 75 percent of the families must be less than or equal to an extremely low income. The remaining 25 percent must fall at or below a very low income.
| Extremely Low Income | |||
| Family Size | Income Limit | Family Size | Income Limit |
| 1 | $22,950 | 4 | $32,750 |
| 2 | $26,200 | 5 | $35,400 |
| 3 | $29,500 | 6 | $38,000 |
| Very Low Income | |||
| Family Size | Income Limit | Family Size | Income Limit |
| 1 | $38,250 | 4 | $54,600 |
| 2 | $43,700 | 5 | $59,000 |
| 3 | $49,150 | 6 | $63,350 |
| Income limits subject to change. | |||
2019 MIPAP Income Limits
Home Ownership Programs have different income requirements. Following are the income limits for the County’s Moderate Income Purchase Assistance Program (MIPAP).
Household Size |
Maximum Household Income |
1 |
$68,000 |
2 |
$77,680 |
3 |
$87,360 |
4 |
$97,040 |
5 |
$104,880 |
6 |
$112,640 |
7 |
$120,400 |
8 |
$128,160 |