Haywood 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).

$1,2502-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,1131-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$69,35080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$86,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Haywood County is $1,250 a month, up 1.6% from $1,230 in FY2026. Haywood County belongs to the Haywood 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 Haywood County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,008	$1,039	−3.0%	$908 – $1,108
1 bedroom	$1,113	$1,122	−0.8%	$1,002 – $1,224
2 bedrooms	$1,250	$1,230	+1.6%	$1,125 – $1,375
3 bedrooms	$1,489	$1,475	+0.9%	$1,341 – $1,637
4 bedrooms	$2,089	$1,844	+13.3%	$1,881 – $2,297

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 Haywood County that is typically $1,125 to $1,375 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?

$39,711median income of renter households

$1,067Median gross rent, all units

32%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 $39,711 can afford about $993 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,250 is $257 (25.9%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $50,000 a year under the 30% rule, or $45,000 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Haywood County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,067 ±$50
Median income of renter households	$39,711 ±$5,013
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	51.6% ±7.0
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	26.3% ±6.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	5,569

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$785	$1,067	+35.9%
Median renter household income	$28,725	$39,711	+38.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	47.5%	51.6%	+4.1 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.

HUD income limits for Haywood County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $86,700 (FY2025: $88,500, −2.0%). 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%)	$18,200 −2.2%	$21,640 +1.8%	$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%)	$30,350 −2.1%	$34,700 −2.0%	$39,050 −2.0%	$43,350 −2.0%	$46,850 −2.0%	$50,300 −2.0%	$53,800 −2.0%	$57,250 −2.1%
Low income (80%)	$48,550 −2.1%	$55,500 −2.0%	$62,450 −2.0%	$69,350 −2.0%	$74,900 −2.1%	$80,450 −2.1%	$86,000 −2.1%	$91,550 −2.1%

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.