USDA income eligibility calculator
USDA eligibility runs on adjusted household income, not the qualifying income other loans use. It counts every adult in the home, then subtracts specific deductions, and compares the result to the 115%-of-median limit for your county. This calculator does that the way USDA actually does it, with the real deductions most tools skip.
Household income vs qualifying income
This trips up a lot of buyers. For eligibility, USDA adds up the annual income of everyone 18 and older who will live in the home, including a spouse or adult you are not putting on the loan. Then it subtracts the deductions above to reach adjusted annual income, and that figure has to fall under the county limit. Separately, when USDA decides how big a payment you can carry, it uses only the borrowers' stable income for the 29/41 debt ratios. Two different numbers, and mixing them up is the most common mistake in figuring USDA eligibility. If your adjusted income lands near the line, the deductions and your county's specific limit often make the difference, which is exactly what we check by hand.
Common questions
Does USDA use household income or just my income?
USDA eligibility uses total household income, meaning every adult who will live in the home, not only the borrowers on the loan. An adult child with a job or a spouse you leave off the mortgage still counts. That is different from the qualifying income USDA uses for your debt-to-income ratios, which counts only the borrowers.
What deductions lower my USDA income?
USDA subtracts five things from annual income: $480 per dependent, $400 if a borrower is 62 or older or disabled, childcare costs for children 12 and under that let a parent work, and unreimbursed medical or disability-care expenses over 3% of income for elderly or disabled households. The result is your adjusted annual income.
What is the USDA income limit for 2026?
The national standard limit is $122,800 for a household of one to four and $162,100 for five to eight, effective July 13, 2026 under USDA Procedure Notice 657. Higher-cost counties have higher limits, so your county's figure may be larger. Adjusted household income is what gets compared to it.
Is this calculator an official eligibility determination?
No. It applies USDA's published deductions and limits to give you a strong estimate, but only USDA and your lender make the actual call, using your verified income and your exact county limit. Our team runs those real numbers for you.