Wicomico 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).

$1,4282-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,1021-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$82,40080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$104,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Wicomico County is $1,428 a month, up 3.6% from $1,378 in FY2026. Wicomico County belongs to the Salisbury, MD HUD Metro FMR Area 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 Wicomico County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,095	$1,054	+3.9%	$986 – $1,204
1 bedroom	$1,102	$1,061	+3.9%	$992 – $1,212
2 bedrooms	$1,428	$1,378	+3.6%	$1,286 – $1,570
3 bedrooms	$1,870	$1,818	+2.9%	$1,683 – $2,057
4 bedrooms	$1,877	$1,825	+2.8%	$1,690 – $2,064

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 Wicomico County that is typically $1,286 to $1,570 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?

$53,082median income of renter households

$1,327Median gross rent, all units

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

50%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $53,082 can afford about $1,327 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,428 is $101 (7.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $57,120 a year under the 30% rule, or $51,408 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Wicomico County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,327 ±$54
Median income of renter households	$53,082 ±$5,077
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	50.0% ±3.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	25.1% ±3.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	14,636

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,060	$1,327	+25.2%
Median renter household income	$36,292	$53,082	+46.3%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	54.3%	50.0%	−4.3 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 $1,250 to $1,670 depending on the ZIP code.

All 18 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
21801	$950	$960	$1,250	$1,640	$1,650
21802	$1,100	$1,100	$1,430	$1,870	$1,880
21803	$1,100	$1,100	$1,430	$1,870	$1,880
21804	$1,160	$1,170	$1,510	$1,980	$1,990
21810	$1,100	$1,100	$1,430	$1,870	$1,880
21814	$1,190	$1,200	$1,460	$2,020	$2,380
21822	$1,020	$1,030	$1,310	$1,720	$1,740
21826	$1,280	$1,290	$1,670	$2,190	$2,190
21830	$1,230	$1,240	$1,600	$2,090	$2,100
21837	$1,010	$1,020	$1,320	$1,730	$1,730
21840	$1,100	$1,100	$1,430	$1,870	$1,880
21849	$980	$990	$1,280	$1,680	$1,680
21850	$1,070	$1,080	$1,400	$1,830	$1,840
21856	$1,170	$1,210	$1,520	$2,020	$2,130
21861	$980	$990	$1,280	$1,680	$1,680
21865	$1,100	$1,100	$1,430	$1,870	$1,880
21874	$1,220	$1,230	$1,590	$2,080	$2,090
21875	$1,180	$1,190	$1,540	$2,020	$2,020

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

HUD income limits for Wicomico County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $104,700 (FY2025: $92,000, +13.8%). 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%)	$21,650 +9.9%	$24,750 +10.0%	$27,850 +4.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$36,050 +9.9%	$41,200 +9.9%	$46,350 +9.8%	$51,500 +9.9%	$55,650 +10.0%	$59,750 +9.9%	$63,900 +10.0%	$68,000 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$57,700 +9.9%	$65,950 +9.9%	$74,200 +9.9%	$82,400 +9.9%	$89,000 +9.9%	$95,600 +9.9%	$102,200 +10.0%	$108,800 +10.0%

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.