Caroline County, MD: Fair Market Rent 2027 and Income Limits

Official HUD figures for landlords and renters, effective October 1, 2026 (rents) and May 1, 2026 (income limits).

$1,3202-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0091-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$76,00080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$88,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Caroline County is $1,320 a month, up 0.5% from $1,314 in FY2026. Caroline County belongs to the Caroline County, MD FMR area (non-metro county), so the same figures apply across that area. FMRs are gross rents: rent plus all tenant-paid utilities except phone, cable and internet.

Fair market rent in Caroline County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,002	$995	+0.7%	$902 – $1,102
1 bedroom	$1,009	$1,001	+0.8%	$909 – $1,109
2 bedrooms	$1,320	$1,314	+0.5%	$1,188 – $1,452
3 bedrooms	$1,623	$1,642	−1.2%	$1,461 – $1,785
4 bedrooms	$2,188	$2,184	+0.2%	$1,970 – $2,406

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026) and FY2026 (revised file), details.

What can a landlord charge a Section 8 tenant here?

The FMR is not a cap on what you can ask on the open market. For a Housing Choice Voucher tenant, the local housing authority sets a payment standard, normally between 90% and 110% of the FMR (or of the ZIP-level Small Area FMR where those apply). For a two-bedroom unit in Caroline County that is typically $1,188 to $1,452 including utilities. You can charge more than the payment standard if the rent passes the housing authority's rent-reasonableness test and, at move-in, the tenant's share stays within 40% of their adjusted monthly income. Ask the housing authority for its current payment standard schedule.

Can local renters afford the fair market rent?

$43,828median income of renter households

$1,105Median gross rent, all units

30%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

56%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $43,828 can afford about $1,096 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,320 is $224 (20.5%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $52,800 a year under the 30% rule, or $47,520 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Caroline County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,105 ±$50
Median income of renter households	$43,828 ±$4,371
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	55.8% ±7.3
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	21.4% ±4.5
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	3,220

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$895	$1,105	+23.5%
Median renter household income	$36,740	$43,828	+19.3%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	51.0%	55.8%	+4.8 pts

Rent-to-income calculator: does an applicant qualify? → · Most affordable counties to rent in this state →

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2020–2024 and 2015–2019 (tables B25064, B25119, B25070). ± = margin of error at 90% confidence. Dollar figures are not adjusted for inflation.

HUD income limits for Caroline County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $88,800 (FY2025: $86,200, +3.0%). Small figures under each limit show the change from FY2025.

Household size	1 person	2 people	3 people	4 people	5 people	6 people	7 people	8 people
Extremely low income (30%)	$19,950 +2.3%	$22,800 +2.2%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$33,250 +2.5%	$38,000 +2.4%	$42,750 +2.4%	$47,500 +2.4%	$51,300 +2.4%	$55,100 +2.3%	$58,900 +2.3%	$62,700 +2.4%
Low income (80%)	$53,200 +2.3%	$60,800 +2.4%	$68,400 +2.3%	$76,000 +2.4%	$82,100 +2.4%	$88,200 +2.4%	$94,250 +2.3%	$100,350 +2.3%

The 30% limit is HUD's “extremely low income” limit: the higher of 30% of median income or the federal poverty guideline, but never above the 50% limit. That is why it can rise faster than 30% of median for larger households. Tax-credit (LIHTC) properties use separate Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits.

Source: HUD Section 8 Income Limits FY2026 (effective May 1, 2026) and FY2025, details.