Brunswick 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).

$1,5742-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,4461-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$79,35080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$99,200Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Brunswick County is $1,574 a month, up 10.4% from $1,426 in FY2026. Brunswick County belongs to the Brunswick County, NC 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 Brunswick County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,388	$1,242	+11.8%	$1,250 – $1,526
1 bedroom	$1,446	$1,301	+11.1%	$1,302 – $1,590
2 bedrooms	$1,574	$1,426	+10.4%	$1,417 – $1,731
3 bedrooms	$2,062	$1,983	+4.0%	$1,856 – $2,268
4 bedrooms	$2,407	$2,392	+0.6%	$2,167 – $2,647

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 Brunswick County that is typically $1,417 to $1,731 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?

$48,968median income of renter households

$1,351Median gross rent, all units

33%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

52%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $48,968 can afford about $1,224 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,574 is $350 (28.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $62,960 a year under the 30% rule, or $56,664 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Brunswick County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,351 ±$52
Median income of renter households	$48,968 ±$3,548
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	51.9% ±5.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	29.5% ±5.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	9,218

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$960	$1,351	+40.7%
Median renter household income	$34,754	$48,968	+40.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	50.3%	51.9%	+1.6 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 $1,290 to $1,800 depending on the ZIP code.

All 15 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
28420	$1,150	$1,190	$1,300	$1,790	$2,160
28422	$1,590	$1,650	$1,800	$2,360	$2,750
28436	$1,220	$1,230	$1,440	$1,790	$2,160
28451	$1,580	$1,640	$1,790	$2,340	$2,740
28452	$1,120	$1,180	$1,290	$1,790	$2,160
28456	$1,120	$1,180	$1,290	$1,790	$2,160
28459	$1,380	$1,440	$1,570	$2,060	$2,400
28461	$1,470	$1,530	$1,670	$2,190	$2,550
28462	$1,120	$1,180	$1,290	$1,790	$2,160
28465	$1,330	$1,390	$1,510	$1,980	$2,310
28467	$1,510	$1,570	$1,710	$2,240	$2,620
28468	$1,420	$1,480	$1,610	$2,110	$2,460
28469	$1,120	$1,180	$1,290	$1,790	$2,160
28470	$1,240	$1,300	$1,410	$1,850	$2,160
28479	$1,400	$1,460	$1,590	$2,080	$2,430

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

HUD income limits for Brunswick County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $99,200 (FY2025: $95,000, +4.4%). 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%)	$20,850 +4.5%	$23,800 +4.4%	$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%)	$34,750 +4.5%	$39,700 +4.5%	$44,650 +4.4%	$49,600 +4.4%	$53,600 +4.5%	$57,550 +4.4%	$61,550 +4.5%	$65,500 +4.5%
Low income (80%)	$55,550 +4.4%	$63,500 +4.4%	$71,450 +4.5%	$79,350 +4.4%	$85,700 +4.4%	$92,050 +4.4%	$98,400 +4.4%	$104,750 +4.4%

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.