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HUD Multifamily Loans Blog
2 min read
by Jeff Hamann

What Is Area Median Income (AMI)?

Area median income is an important benchmark when determining housing eligibility for affordable housing properties.

In this article:
  1. Why Is AMI important?
  2. What Is AMI Used For?
  3. What's My AMI?
  4. Area Median Income by State
  5. Related Questions
  6. Get Financing
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Area median income — often referred to as simply AMI — is a key metric in affordable housing. Area median income is defined as the midpoint of a specific area’s income distribution and is calculated on an annual basis by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD refers to the figure as MFI, or median family income, based on a four-person household.

Why Is AMI important?

This metric is important because many of HUD’s housing programs are based on the value for a metropolitan statistical area or MSA, impacting renter eligibility determinations among other uses. Because the HUD figure is tied to a four-person household, these values are not absolute and can be adjusted depending on the size of a household. For an affordable housing community which reserves units for households earning 50% of AMI, a two-person household would have a lower threshold than a five-person household, for example.

What Is AMI Used For?

Using AMI benchmarks for renter eligibility is typically a requirement if your property benefits under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, or LIHTC, program. For these programs, generally eligibility is set at a percentage of AMI, usually less than 100%.

Specifically for housing under HUD’s Section 8 program, eligibility is determined by three rigid tiers of renters by income:

  • Low Income (at or below 80% of AMI)

  • Very Low Income (at or below 50% of AMI)

  • Extremely Low Income (at or below 30% of AMI)

  • What's My AMI?

    You can find the AMI specific to your area on HUD's website.

    Area Median Income by State

    The following table shows AMI figures by state, sourced from the HUD website for 2024.

    State Total  Metro  Non Metro 
    Alabama82,50088,00066,100
    Alaska111,800114,000101,300
    Arizona94,200 95,700 66,100 
    Arkansas75,100 82,700 65,200 
    California111,300111,90087,900
    Colorado116,400120,50094,200 
    Connecticut122,300122,900114,200
    Delaware106,300106,30077,400 
    District of Columbia155,500155,50077,400
    Florida88,600 89,300 65,200 
    Georgia92,00097,90070,500
    Hawaii115,000118,000100,700
    Idaho90,500 93,900 79,600 
    Illinois102,900107,20081,400 
    Indiana89,700 92,500 81,100 
    Iowa96,500104,00086,700 
    Kansas95,300 101,30082,700
    Kentucky80,800 92,800 65,600 
    Louisiana77,400 80,80059,400 
    Maine93,500102,50082,400 
    Maryland124,500125,80085,000 
    Massachusetts127,700127,700137,500
    Michigan91,20094,60079,600
    Minnesota111,800118,90091,600 
    Mississippi71,100 80,70064,200
    Missouri88,60096,10070,600
    Montana88,70093,80085,900
    Nebraska98,400107,80082,700
    Nevada90,90090,60092,300
    New Hampshire119,900131,800104,500
    New Jersey125,300125,30077,400 
    New Mexico78,90082,30070,600
    New York105,200107,40083,500
    North Carolina88,60093,00073,300
    North Dakota103,900105,800101,500
    Ohio91,30095,20080,000
    Oklahoma80,10086,40069,000
    Oregon99,200104,70080,900
    Pennsylvania98,800102,40077,300
    Rhode Island112,500112,50077,400
    South Carolina84,80087,70062,300
    South Dakota95,100101,90089,900
    Tennessee85,90092,00068,600
    Texas91,60094,30075,000
    Utah108,500110,50091,600
    Vermont102,300118,90095,000 
    Virginia113,700121,30073,300
    Washington115,900120,00090,000
    West Virginia74,70079,60066,000
    Wisconsin97,400102,10086,600
    Wyoming91,90092,40091,800


    Source for table: hud.gov

    Related Questions

    What is the definition of Area Median Income (AMI)?

    Area Median Income (AMI) is defined as the midpoint of a specific area’s income distribution and is calculated on an annual basis by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD refers to the figure as MFI, or median family income, based on a four-person household. The most recent MFI calculations can be found on the HUD User web portal.

    AMI is used extensively for assessing affordable housing eligibility. For instance, most affordable housing properties require that the income of a prospective resident falls under a specified percentage of AMI to lease a unit. These AMI requirements are generally mandatory to take advantage of low-income housing tax credits, or LIHTC. This metric is also essential for forecasting rental income. Typically, affordable housing rents are locked to a maximum of 30% of a household’s monthly income, though in some cases this may be higher.

    How is Area Median Income (AMI) calculated?

    Area Median Income (AMI) is calculated each year by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD calculates AMI on the basis of household size for every metropolitan area and region in the U.S. The most recent MFI calculations can be found on the HUD User web portal.

    In this article:
    1. Why Is AMI important?
    2. What Is AMI Used For?
    3. What's My AMI?
    4. Area Median Income by State
    5. Related Questions
    6. Get Financing

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