Alamance County, NC: 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).

$1,3482-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,2381-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$70,90080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$88,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Alamance County is $1,348 a month, unchanged from FY2026. Alamance County belongs to the Burlington, NC 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 Alamance County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,076	$992	+8.5%	$969 – $1,183
1 bedroom	$1,238	$1,230	+0.7%	$1,115 – $1,361
2 bedrooms	$1,348	$1,348	±0.0%	$1,214 – $1,482
3 bedrooms	$1,658	$1,670	−0.7%	$1,493 – $1,823
4 bedrooms	$2,088	$1,972	+5.9%	$1,880 – $2,296

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 Alamance County that is typically $1,214 to $1,482 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?

$44,589median income of renter households

$1,064Median gross rent, all units

29%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

47%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $44,589 can afford about $1,115 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,348 is $233 (20.9%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $53,920 a year under the 30% rule, or $48,528 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Alamance County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,064 ±$25
Median income of renter households	$44,589 ±$2,818
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	46.7% ±3.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.9% ±2.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	22,808

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$813	$1,064	+30.9%
Median renter household income	$32,163	$44,589	+38.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	48.9%	46.7%	−2.2 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.

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 $1,060 to $1,540 depending on the ZIP code.

All 17 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
27201	$1,210	$1,380	$1,500	$1,850	$2,320
27202	$980	$1,120	$1,230	$1,520	$1,910
27215	$1,210	$1,380	$1,500	$1,850	$2,320
27216	$1,080	$1,240	$1,350	$1,660	$2,090
27217	$930	$1,110	$1,220	$1,510	$1,800
27243	$1,280	$1,360	$1,540	$1,910	$2,280
27244	$980	$1,120	$1,230	$1,520	$1,910
27249	$890	$960	$1,060	$1,350	$1,600
27253	$1,040	$1,190	$1,300	$1,600	$2,010
27258	$920	$1,110	$1,220	$1,510	$1,780
27298	$1,020	$1,050	$1,200	$1,510	$1,840
27302	$1,280	$1,360	$1,540	$1,910	$2,280
27312	$1,280	$1,360	$1,540	$1,910	$2,280
27340	$1,040	$1,190	$1,300	$1,600	$2,010
27344	$1,120	$1,170	$1,310	$1,620	$1,870
27349	$1,280	$1,360	$1,540	$1,910	$2,280
27359	$1,080	$1,240	$1,350	$1,660	$2,090

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

HUD income limits for Alamance County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $88,600 (FY2025: $88,200, +0.5%). 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%)	$18,650 +4.5%	$21,640 +2.3%	$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%)	$31,050 +4.4%	$35,450 +4.3%	$39,900 +4.3%	$44,300 +4.2%	$47,850 +4.2%	$51,400 +4.3%	$54,950 +4.3%	$58,500 +4.3%
Low income (80%)	$49,650 +4.3%	$56,750 +4.3%	$63,850 +4.3%	$70,900 +4.3%	$76,600 +4.3%	$82,250 +4.2%	$87,950 +4.3%	$93,600 +4.2%

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.