Craven 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).

$1,2462-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9521-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$69,60080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$87,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Craven County is $1,246 a month, up 5.2% from $1,184 in FY2026. Craven County belongs to the Craven County, NC 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 Craven County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$946	$897	+5.5%	$852 – $1,040
1 bedroom	$952	$902	+5.5%	$857 – $1,047
2 bedrooms	$1,246	$1,184	+5.2%	$1,122 – $1,370
3 bedrooms	$1,644	$1,591	+3.3%	$1,480 – $1,808
4 bedrooms	$1,985	$1,988	−0.2%	$1,787 – $2,183

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 Craven County that is typically $1,122 to $1,370 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?

$43,609median income of renter households

$1,110Median gross rent, all units

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

46%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $43,609 can afford about $1,090 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,246 is $156 (14.3%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $49,840 a year under the 30% rule, or $44,856 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Craven County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,110 ±$39
Median income of renter households	$43,609 ±$3,008
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	46.3% ±4.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	21.7% ±3.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	12,488

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$910	$1,110	+22.0%
Median renter household income	$35,763	$43,609	+21.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	46.5%	46.3%	−0.2 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 Craven County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $87,000 (FY2025: $88,300, −1.5%). 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%)	$18,300 −1.3%	$21,640 +2.1%	$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%)	$30,450 −1.6%	$34,800 −1.6%	$39,150 −1.5%	$43,500 −1.5%	$47,000 −1.5%	$50,500 −1.5%	$53,950 −1.5%	$57,450 −1.5%
Low income (80%)	$48,750 −1.5%	$55,700 −1.5%	$62,650 −1.5%	$69,600 −1.5%	$75,200 −1.5%	$80,750 −1.5%	$86,350 −1.5%	$91,900 −1.5%

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.