Harford 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).

$2,0062-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,6251-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$106,80080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$134,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Harford County is $2,006 a month, up 8.0% from $1,857 in FY2026. Harford County belongs to the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA FMR area, 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 Harford County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,523	$1,362	+11.8%	$1,371 – $1,675
1 bedroom	$1,625	$1,511	+7.5%	$1,463 – $1,787
2 bedrooms	$2,006	$1,857	+8.0%	$1,806 – $2,206
3 bedrooms	$2,509	$2,358	+6.4%	$2,259 – $2,759
4 bedrooms	$2,789	$2,611	+6.8%	$2,511 – $3,067

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 Harford County that is typically $1,806 to $2,206 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?

$59,458median income of renter households

$1,586Median gross rent, all units

32%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

49%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $59,458 can afford about $1,486 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $2,006 is $520 (35.0%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $80,240 a year under the 30% rule, or $72,216 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Harford County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,586 ±$40
Median income of renter households	$59,458 ±$5,816
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	48.9% ±3.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	23.9% ±2.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	19,277

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,257	$1,586	+26.2%
Median renter household income	$48,693	$59,458	+22.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	47.9%	48.9%	+1.0 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.

Small Area FMRs by ZIP code (FY2027)

In metro areas HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area Fair Market Rents. Housing authorities in designated areas must use them for voucher payment standards; others may opt in. Here the two-bedroom SAFMR ranges from $1,260 to $3,010 depending on the ZIP code.

All 191 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
20701	$2,060	$2,190	$2,710	$3,390	$3,770
20711	$1,400	$1,500	$1,850	$2,310	$2,570
20714	$1,610	$1,640	$2,070	$2,790	$3,140
20723	$1,910	$2,030	$2,510	$3,140	$3,490
20724	$2,160	$2,300	$2,840	$3,550	$3,950
20733	$1,910	$2,040	$2,520	$3,150	$3,500
20736	$1,370	$1,380	$1,750	$2,420	$2,740
20751	$1,910	$2,040	$2,520	$3,150	$3,500
20754	$2,040	$2,070	$2,620	$3,580	$4,030
20755	$2,110	$2,250	$2,780	$3,480	$3,870
20758	$1,550	$1,570	$1,990	$2,730	$3,080
20759	$2,090	$2,200	$2,570	$3,240	$3,710
20763	$1,920	$2,050	$2,530	$3,160	$3,520
20764	$2,180	$2,320	$2,870	$3,590	$3,990
20765	$1,910	$2,040	$2,520	$3,150	$3,500
20776	$1,990	$2,110	$2,570	$3,220	$3,610
20777	$1,930	$2,060	$2,540	$3,180	$3,540
20778	$1,910	$2,040	$2,520	$3,150	$3,500
20779	$1,700	$1,750	$2,200	$2,920	$3,280
20794	$1,910	$2,040	$2,520	$3,150	$3,500
20833	$2,230	$2,330	$2,580	$3,290	$3,870
21001	$1,430	$1,520	$1,880	$2,350	$2,610
21005	$1,870	$1,990	$2,460	$3,080	$3,420
21009	$1,610	$1,720	$2,120	$2,650	$2,950
21010	$2,290	$2,440	$3,010	$3,760	$4,180
21012	$2,040	$2,170	$2,680	$3,350	$3,730
21013	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21014	$1,480	$1,580	$1,950	$2,440	$2,710
21015	$1,630	$1,730	$2,140	$2,680	$2,980
21017	$1,650	$1,760	$2,170	$2,710	$3,020
21020	$1,480	$1,580	$1,950	$2,440	$2,710
21022	$1,480	$1,580	$1,950	$2,440	$2,710
21023	$1,510	$1,610	$1,990	$2,490	$2,770
21028	$1,750	$1,870	$2,310	$2,890	$3,210
21029	$2,060	$2,190	$2,660	$3,340	$3,740
21030	$1,630	$1,730	$2,140	$2,680	$2,980
21031	$1,630	$1,730	$2,140	$2,680	$2,980
21032	$2,290	$2,440	$3,010	$3,760	$4,180
21034	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21035	$2,290	$2,440	$3,010	$3,760	$4,180
21036	$2,160	$2,270	$2,600	$3,290	$3,810
21037	$2,090	$2,230	$2,750	$3,440	$3,820
21040	$1,350	$1,440	$1,780	$2,230	$2,470
21041	$1,930	$2,060	$2,540	$3,180	$3,530
21042	$2,000	$2,140	$2,640	$3,300	$3,670
21043	$1,880	$2,010	$2,480	$3,100	$3,450
21044	$2,070	$2,210	$2,730	$3,410	$3,800
21045	$1,700	$1,810	$2,240	$2,800	$3,110
21046	$2,000	$2,140	$2,640	$3,300	$3,670
21047	$2,240	$2,390	$2,950	$3,690	$4,100
21048	$1,280	$1,370	$1,690	$2,130	$2,350
21050	$1,590	$1,690	$2,090	$2,610	$2,910
21051	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21052	$1,340	$1,430	$1,770	$2,210	$2,460
21053	$1,710	$1,960	$2,400	$3,080	$3,440
21054	$2,290	$2,440	$3,010	$3,760	$4,180
21056	$1,940	$2,070	$2,560	$3,200	$3,560
21057	$1,470	$1,570	$1,940	$2,440	$2,730
21060	$1,570	$1,680	$2,070	$2,590	$2,880
21061	$1,690	$1,810	$2,230	$2,790	$3,100
21062	$1,910	$2,040	$2,520	$3,150	$3,500
21071	$1,450	$1,550	$1,910	$2,390	$2,660
21074	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21075	$1,980	$2,110	$2,610	$3,260	$3,630
21076	$2,230	$2,370	$2,930	$3,660	$4,070
21077	$2,230	$2,370	$2,930	$3,660	$4,070
21078	$1,310	$1,390	$1,720	$2,150	$2,390
21082	$1,480	$1,580	$1,950	$2,440	$2,710
21084	$1,540	$1,630	$2,020	$2,530	$2,810
21085	$1,540	$1,640	$2,030	$2,540	$2,820
21087	$1,630	$1,730	$2,140	$2,680	$2,980
21090	$1,810	$1,940	$2,390	$2,990	$3,320
21092	$1,480	$1,580	$1,950	$2,440	$2,710
21093	$1,470	$1,570	$1,940	$2,430	$2,700
21094	$1,480	$1,580	$1,950	$2,440	$2,710
21102	$1,250	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21104	$1,590	$1,740	$2,130	$2,760	$3,130
21105	$1,480	$1,580	$1,950	$2,440	$2,710
21108	$1,890	$2,020	$2,490	$3,110	$3,460
21111	$1,510	$1,620	$1,990	$2,500	$2,770
21113	$2,080	$2,220	$2,740	$3,430	$3,810
21114	$2,010	$2,150	$2,650	$3,310	$3,680
21117	$1,780	$1,900	$2,350	$2,940	$3,270
21120	$1,400	$1,600	$1,950	$2,520	$2,800
21122	$1,940	$2,070	$2,560	$3,200	$3,560
21123	$1,910	$2,040	$2,520	$3,150	$3,500
21128	$1,660	$1,770	$2,190	$2,740	$3,040
21130	$1,620	$1,720	$2,130	$2,670	$2,960
21131	$1,710	$1,960	$2,400	$3,080	$3,440
21132	$1,270	$1,360	$1,690	$2,140	$2,350
21133	$1,490	$1,590	$1,960	$2,450	$2,730
21136	$1,450	$1,550	$1,910	$2,390	$2,660
21139	$1,480	$1,580	$1,950	$2,440	$2,710
21140	$2,150	$2,300	$2,830	$3,540	$3,940
21144	$1,850	$1,970	$2,430	$3,040	$3,380
21146	$1,740	$1,850	$2,290	$2,860	$3,180
21150	$1,930	$2,060	$2,540	$3,180	$3,530
21152	$1,500	$1,600	$1,980	$2,480	$2,750
21153	$1,700	$1,820	$2,240	$2,810	$3,120
21154	$1,270	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21155	$1,370	$1,470	$1,810	$2,260	$2,520
21156	$1,480	$1,580	$1,950	$2,440	$2,710
21157	$1,250	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21158	$1,620	$1,720	$2,130	$2,660	$2,960
21160	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21161	$1,480	$1,580	$1,950	$2,440	$2,710
21162	$1,570	$1,680	$2,070	$2,590	$2,880
21163	$1,350	$1,440	$1,780	$2,230	$2,470
21201	$1,600	$1,710	$2,110	$2,640	$2,930
21202	$1,830	$1,950	$2,410	$3,010	$3,350
21203	$1,310	$1,390	$1,720	$2,150	$2,390
21204	$1,780	$1,900	$2,340	$2,930	$3,250
21205	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21206	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21207	$1,340	$1,430	$1,760	$2,200	$2,450
21208	$1,780	$1,900	$2,340	$2,930	$3,250
21209	$1,730	$1,850	$2,280	$2,850	$3,170
21210	$1,420	$1,510	$1,870	$2,340	$2,600
21211	$1,530	$1,640	$2,020	$2,530	$2,810
21212	$1,380	$1,470	$1,820	$2,280	$2,530
21213	$1,310	$1,390	$1,720	$2,150	$2,390
21214	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21215	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21216	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21217	$1,270	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21218	$1,280	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21219	$1,340	$1,430	$1,770	$2,210	$2,460
21220	$1,550	$1,650	$2,040	$2,550	$2,840
21221	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21222	$1,300	$1,380	$1,710	$2,140	$2,380
21223	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21224	$1,740	$1,850	$2,290	$2,860	$3,180
21225	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21226	$1,280	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21227	$1,330	$1,420	$1,750	$2,190	$2,430
21228	$1,460	$1,550	$1,920	$2,400	$2,670
21229	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21230	$1,820	$1,940	$2,400	$3,000	$3,340
21231	$1,800	$1,920	$2,370	$2,960	$3,300
21233	$1,310	$1,390	$1,720	$2,150	$2,390
21234	$1,500	$1,600	$1,980	$2,480	$2,750
21236	$1,510	$1,610	$1,990	$2,490	$2,770
21237	$1,400	$1,500	$1,850	$2,310	$2,570
21239	$1,260	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21240	$1,910	$2,040	$2,520	$3,150	$3,500
21244	$1,530	$1,640	$2,020	$2,530	$2,810
21250	$1,460	$1,550	$1,920	$2,400	$2,670
21251	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21252	$1,760	$1,880	$2,320	$2,910	$3,220
21263	$1,310	$1,390	$1,720	$2,150	$2,390
21270	$1,310	$1,390	$1,720	$2,150	$2,390
21282	$1,480	$1,580	$1,950	$2,440	$2,710
21284	$1,480	$1,580	$1,950	$2,440	$2,710
21285	$1,630	$1,740	$2,150	$2,690	$2,990
21286	$1,560	$1,670	$2,060	$2,580	$2,860
21287	$1,310	$1,390	$1,720	$2,150	$2,390
21401	$2,040	$2,180	$2,690	$3,360	$3,740
21402	$2,290	$2,440	$3,010	$3,760	$4,180
21403	$1,810	$1,940	$2,390	$2,990	$3,320
21404	$1,910	$2,040	$2,520	$3,150	$3,500
21405	$2,100	$2,240	$2,770	$3,460	$3,840
21409	$2,070	$2,210	$2,730	$3,410	$3,800
21412	$1,910	$2,040	$2,520	$3,150	$3,500
21607	$1,580	$1,680	$2,080	$2,600	$2,890
21617	$1,310	$1,390	$1,720	$2,150	$2,390
21619	$1,760	$1,880	$2,320	$2,900	$3,230
21620	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21623	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21628	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21638	$1,590	$1,690	$2,090	$2,610	$2,910
21640	$1,460	$1,470	$1,920	$2,360	$3,130
21644	$1,420	$1,500	$1,860	$2,330	$2,610
21649	$1,350	$1,380	$1,800	$2,250	$2,910
21651	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21657	$1,310	$1,500	$1,840	$2,380	$2,700
21658	$1,660	$1,770	$2,180	$2,730	$3,030
21666	$1,810	$1,930	$2,380	$2,980	$3,310
21668	$1,230	$1,360	$1,680	$2,130	$2,350
21679	$1,400	$1,520	$1,840	$2,360	$2,700
21723	$1,550	$1,720	$2,120	$2,690	$2,970
21737	$1,930	$2,060	$2,540	$3,180	$3,530
21738	$1,930	$2,060	$2,540	$3,180	$3,530
21757	$1,330	$1,410	$1,650	$2,080	$2,380
21765	$1,930	$2,060	$2,540	$3,180	$3,530
21771	$2,080	$2,200	$2,580	$3,250	$3,720
21776	$1,210	$1,280	$1,560	$1,960	$2,190
21784	$1,590	$1,700	$2,100	$2,630	$2,920
21787	$960	$1,020	$1,260	$1,580	$1,750
21791	$1,320	$1,400	$1,640	$2,060	$2,360
21794	$1,930	$2,060	$2,540	$3,180	$3,530
21797	$1,530	$1,640	$1,940	$2,450	$2,790

Source: HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs (effective October 1, 2026).

HUD income limits for Harford County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $134,000 (FY2025: $130,300, +2.8%). 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%)	$28,150 +2.7%	$32,200 +2.9%	$36,200 +2.8%	$40,200 +2.8%	$43,450 +2.8%	$46,650 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$46,900 +2.7%	$53,600 +2.8%	$60,300 +2.8%	$67,000 +2.8%	$72,400 +2.8%	$77,750 +2.8%	$83,100 +2.8%	$88,450 +2.8%
Low income (80%)	$74,800 +2.5%	$85,450 +2.5%	$96,150 +2.5%	$106,800 +2.5%	$115,350 +2.5%	$123,900 +2.5%	$132,450 +2.5%	$141,000 +2.5%

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.