Worcester 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).

$1,1842-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9951-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$88,90080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$111,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Worcester County is $1,184 a month, down 0.8% from $1,194 in FY2026. Worcester County belongs to the Worcester 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 Worcester County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$990	$1,027	−3.6%	$891 – $1,089
1 bedroom	$995	$1,035	−3.9%	$896 – $1,094
2 bedrooms	$1,184	$1,194	−0.8%	$1,066 – $1,302
3 bedrooms	$1,639	$1,661	−1.3%	$1,476 – $1,802
4 bedrooms	$1,979	$1,919	+3.1%	$1,782 – $2,176

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 Worcester County that is typically $1,066 to $1,302 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?

$44,914median income of renter households

$1,159Median gross rent, all units

31%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

55%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $44,914 can afford about $1,123 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,184 is $61 (5.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $47,360 a year under the 30% rule, or $42,624 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Worcester County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,159 ±$85
Median income of renter households	$44,914 ±$9,001
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	55.3% ±6.3
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	32.8% ±6.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	4,557

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,035	$1,159	+12.0%
Median renter household income	$39,433	$44,914	+13.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	50.1%	55.3%	+5.2 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 Worcester County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $111,100 (FY2025: $111,000, +0.1%). 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%)	$23,350 ±0.0%	$26,700 +0.2%	$30,050 +0.2%	$33,350 +0.2%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$38,900 +0.1%	$44,450 +0.1%	$50,000 +0.1%	$55,550 +0.1%	$60,000 +0.1%	$64,450 +0.1%	$68,900 +0.1%	$73,350 +0.1%
Low income (80%)	$62,250 +0.1%	$71,150 +0.1%	$80,050 +0.1%	$88,900 +0.1%	$96,050 +0.1%	$103,150 +0.1%	$110,250 +0.1%	$117,350 +0.1%

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.