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A USDA loan needs a property in an area USDA designates as rural. To check an address, enter it on the USDA eligibility map at USDA Rural Development’s property eligibility website, and then have a USDA-approved lender confirm the result. “USDA loan map” and “USDA eligibility map” mean the same tool.
This guide covers the map and the property side of eligibility only. The full borrower requirements for the program are in our USDA home loan guide.
What the USDA eligibility map shows
The USDA loan map is an online tool run by USDA Rural Development. It shades eligible and ineligible areas for the whole country, so it works the same way in Texas, Michigan or Oregon. You either type in an address or click your state on the U.S. map to browse.
The map answers one question: is this location in a USDA-designated rural area? Under federal rules, USDA guarantees loans only in areas it designates as rural (7 CFR 3555.201(a)). Because USDA makes the call, a lender relies on USDA’s determination. A third-party map or a real estate listing that says “USDA eligible” does not count.
What “rural” means for a USDA loan
USDA’s handbook for the guaranteed loan, HB-1-3555 (section 12.3.A, revised May 5, 2025), defines rural areas in general as:
- Open country that is not part of, or associated with, an urban area.
- A town or place that is rural in character with a population under 10,000.
- A place of 10,000 to 20,000 people outside a metropolitan area, if USDA and HUD find a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower- and moderate-income families.
- Certain areas that were rural before and later grew past the limits. These can keep their status until 2030 census data arrives, if the population is no more than 35,000 and the other tests are met.
Population alone does not settle it, so check the specific address.
How to check an address on the USDA eligibility map
These steps follow USDA’s handbook (Attachment 12-A):
- Open the USDA eligibility site. USDA’s own guaranteed loan program page links to it.
- Choose “Single Family Housing Guaranteed” from the menu. This is the program that approved lenders offer.
- Read the Property Eligibility Disclaimer and select “Accept.”
- Type the full street address of the home.
- Read the result. Without an exact address, click a state on the U.S. map and zoom in instead.
What each result means
| Result | What it means | What happens next |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible | The address is in a USDA-designated rural area. | The buyer and the home still need to meet the other program rules. |
| Ineligible | The address is outside the rural area. | A USDA guaranteed loan is not available for this address. |
| Unable to Determine | The boundary is unclear at this spot. | The lender must confirm with USDA staff that the home is in a rural area before ordering the appraisal (HB-1-3555, 12.3.B). |
A screenshot is not proof
The site’s disclaimer says viewing the map is not a final decision. Instead, Rural Development decides after it receives a complete application. So a screenshot from the USDA eligibility map, or an old map image saved by a seller, only tells you the address is worth pursuing. The lender’s check with USDA is what counts for the loan.
Why one address qualifies and the next one does not
Eligible areas follow boundaries, and those lines can run between neighbors. For example, USDA’s September 2023 notice for Ohio expanded the ineligible areas around several city limits. The new lines took in land annexed since 1990 and land surrounded by incorporated or annexed areas.
Say a buyer likes two houses a mile apart on the edge of a growing town. If the city annexed the land under the first one, it may show “Ineligible” while the second shows “Eligible.” Also, two towns that touch can be judged separately if they are not otherwise associated and their densely settled areas do not connect (HB-1-3555, 12.3.A).
How often USDA updates the eligibility map
USDA changes rural designations after each decennial census and through periodic reviews. According to HB-1-3555 section 12.3.A, USDA reviews areas every five years. However, areas with rapid growth, and eligible communities inside metropolitan statistical areas, get a review every three years. Before a final decision, USDA gives public notice at least 30 days ahead so people can comment.
Current status of USDA eligible areas
USDA finished its review based on the 2020 census, and the changes took effect October 1, 2023. Some areas became eligible, while others lost eligibility. Each state’s notice lists its places, such as the Ohio notice of changes to eligible area maps dated September 6, 2023.
When USDA proposes new changes, the 2023 notices show that it posts them on the same site under “Proposed Eligibility Areas.” Because the site always shows the current designation, check the address there and do not rely on a map printed or saved years ago.
If the address is not USDA eligible
An “Ineligible” result ends the USDA option for that house, although not the search:
- Look a few miles out. Use the map view to see where the boundary runs, and then search for homes on the eligible side.
- Ask the lender to contact USDA if the result looks wrong. The handbook lets lenders contact USDA’s guaranteed loan policy branch about an “Ineligible” or “Unable to Determine” result. That is a request for USDA’s review, so it may not change the answer.
- Compare other low- and zero-down loans. If the home is the priority, see our list of 100% financing loans. For buyers without VA eligibility, our USDA vs. FHA comparison shows how the two low-down-payment paths differ.
USDA also runs a separate direct loan program, which you apply for through your state’s Rural Development office. This guide covers the guaranteed loan that private lenders offer.
What else a USDA-eligible property needs
An eligible address is the first test, and the house itself has to pass the rest. Under HB-1-3555 chapter 12 and 7 CFR 3555, the home must:
- Be the buyer’s principal residence. USDA does not guarantee loans on investment homes.
- Be modest, which USDA defines as a home a low- or moderate-income buyer can afford on their repayment ability. There is no maximum loan amount.
- Not include land or buildings used mainly to produce income, such as a working farm.
- Have direct access from a street, road or driveway with a hard or all-weather surface.
- Have acceptable water and wastewater systems.
- Meet HUD’s minimum property requirements if it is an existing home, which the appraiser checks.
Income, fees and debt ratios
The household income limit depends on the county and the household size. You check it on the same USDA website, and our USDA income eligibility guide explains how lenders count income. As of 2026, USDA charges an upfront guarantee fee of 1% and an annual fee of 0.35%. Lenders also use debt ratios of 29% of income for housing and 41% for total debt. With a credit score of 680 or more, a waiver can permit 32% and 44% (HB-1-3555, chapter 11).
USDA eligibility map FAQ
How do I know if a house is USDA eligible?
Enter the address on USDA’s property eligibility site under “Single Family Housing Guaranteed.” An “Eligible” result means the location qualifies, and then the lender confirms it with USDA as part of the loan. The home also has to meet USDA’s property standards.
How often does USDA update its eligibility map?
USDA reviews rural designations after each decennial census and every five years. Fast-growing areas and eligible communities inside metropolitan areas get a review every three years. The latest census-based changes took effect October 1, 2023.
What areas qualify for USDA loans?
In general, open country and towns under 10,000 people that are rural in character qualify. Some places of 10,000 to 20,000 outside metropolitan areas can qualify too, under extra conditions. Because the lines follow local boundaries, check the specific address.
Is the USDA map the same for every state?
Yes, one USDA site covers the whole country, so click your state or type in any address. The rural rules are the same everywhere, although each state’s eligible areas differ.
Can an address stop being eligible while I am buying?
It can, but HB-1-3555 section 12.3.C protects some buyers. A purchase can still go forward if the lender received the application before the change, issued the Loan Estimate within three days, and the purchase contract was ratified before the change. Owners with an existing USDA loan in an area that changed can still refinance, for example with a USDA streamline refinance.
Your next step
Before you call a lender, run the address through the USDA eligibility map. If it shows “Eligible” or “Unable to Determine,” a USDA-approved lender can confirm it with USDA and then check your income and credit.
