Burke 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).

$1,1472-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9651-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$68,15080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$85,200Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Burke County is $1,147 a month, up 4.7% from $1,095 in FY2026. Burke County belongs to the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, 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 Burke County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$961	$858	+12.0%	$865 – $1,057
1 bedroom	$965	$908	+6.3%	$869 – $1,061
2 bedrooms	$1,147	$1,095	+4.7%	$1,033 – $1,261
3 bedrooms	$1,399	$1,372	+2.0%	$1,260 – $1,538
4 bedrooms	$1,707	$1,660	+2.8%	$1,537 – $1,877

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 Burke County that is typically $1,033 to $1,261 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?

$42,241median income of renter households

$884Median gross rent, all units

25%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

37%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $42,241 can afford about $1,056 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,147 is $91 (8.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $45,880 a year under the 30% rule, or $41,292 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Burke County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$884 ±$47
Median income of renter households	$42,241 ±$5,701
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	36.9% ±5.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.2% ±4.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	7,872

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$648	$884	+36.4%
Median renter household income	$26,888	$42,241	+57.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	43.0%	36.9%	−6.1 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 $1,010 to $1,720 depending on the ZIP code.

All 43 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
28037	$1,160	$1,200	$1,320	$1,800	$2,180
28090	$850	$870	$1,010	$1,390	$1,560
28092	$960	$1,000	$1,090	$1,510	$1,820
28168	$890	$920	$1,030	$1,360	$1,650
28601	$1,110	$1,110	$1,320	$1,610	$1,960
28602	$1,050	$1,050	$1,250	$1,520	$1,860
28603	$1,050	$1,050	$1,250	$1,520	$1,860
28605	$930	$1,140	$1,330	$1,760	$2,220
28606	$900	$910	$1,070	$1,360	$1,620
28609	$1,270	$1,280	$1,520	$1,850	$2,260
28610	$980	$980	$1,170	$1,430	$1,740
28611	$870	$920	$1,100	$1,390	$1,700
28612	$950	$950	$1,130	$1,380	$1,680
28613	$950	$950	$1,130	$1,380	$1,680
28619	$850	$850	$1,010	$1,240	$1,510
28624	$870	$910	$1,070	$1,390	$1,660
28625	$1,020	$1,070	$1,160	$1,540	$1,940
28628	$960	$960	$1,140	$1,390	$1,700
28630	$950	$950	$1,130	$1,380	$1,680
28633	$850	$850	$1,010	$1,240	$1,510
28636	$1,060	$1,100	$1,210	$1,630	$2,030
28637	$850	$850	$1,010	$1,240	$1,510
28638	$850	$850	$1,010	$1,240	$1,510
28641	$780	$820	$1,010	$1,340	$1,530
28645	$850	$890	$1,060	$1,360	$1,780
28647	$960	$970	$1,150	$1,400	$1,710
28650	$860	$870	$1,010	$1,330	$1,560
28654	$1,070	$1,090	$1,260	$1,670	$1,930
28655	$1,300	$1,510	$1,660	$2,010	$2,780
28657	$780	$820	$1,010	$1,340	$1,530
28658	$1,060	$1,060	$1,260	$1,540	$1,870
28661	$850	$850	$1,010	$1,240	$1,510
28666	$980	$980	$1,160	$1,420	$1,730
28667	$910	$910	$1,080	$1,320	$1,610
28671	$960	$960	$1,140	$1,390	$1,700
28673	$1,360	$1,360	$1,620	$1,980	$2,410
28678	$1,060	$1,100	$1,210	$1,630	$2,030
28680	$960	$970	$1,150	$1,400	$1,710
28681	$850	$850	$1,010	$1,240	$1,510
28682	$1,440	$1,450	$1,720	$2,100	$2,560
28689	$920	$960	$1,080	$1,420	$1,720
28690	$1,010	$1,010	$1,200	$1,460	$1,790
28761	$1,000	$1,050	$1,170	$1,490	$1,560

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

HUD income limits for Burke County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $85,200 (FY2025: $77,600, +9.8%). 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%)	$17,900 +9.5%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +3.9%	$55,720 +8.7%
Very low income (50%)	$29,850 +9.7%	$34,100 +9.8%	$38,350 +9.7%	$42,600 +9.8%	$46,050 +9.8%	$49,450 +9.8%	$52,850 +9.8%	$56,250 +9.8%
Low income (80%)	$47,750 +9.8%	$54,550 +9.8%	$61,350 +9.7%	$68,150 +9.7%	$73,650 +9.8%	$79,100 +9.8%	$84,550 +9.7%	$90,000 +9.8%

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.