Moore 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).

$1,2232-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,1161-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$85,05080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$106,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Moore County is $1,223 a month, down 9.9% from $1,358 in FY2026. Moore County belongs to the Pinehurst-Southern Pines, 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 Moore County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,042	$1,157	−9.9%	$938 – $1,146
1 bedroom	$1,116	$1,239	−9.9%	$1,005 – $1,227
2 bedrooms	$1,223	$1,358	−9.9%	$1,101 – $1,345
3 bedrooms	$1,701	$1,889	−10.0%	$1,531 – $1,871
4 bedrooms	$2,051	$2,278	−10.0%	$1,846 – $2,256

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 Moore County that is typically $1,101 to $1,345 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?

$46,970median income of renter households

$1,254Median gross rent, all units

32%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

49%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $46,970 can afford about $1,174 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,223 is $49 (4.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $48,920 a year under the 30% rule, or $44,028 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Moore County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,254 ±$79
Median income of renter households	$46,970 ±$5,696
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	48.8% ±3.9
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.7% ±2.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	9,111

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$879	$1,254	+42.7%
Median renter household income	$38,641	$46,970	+21.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	39.2%	48.8%	+9.6 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 $1,020 to $1,800 depending on the ZIP code.

All 22 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
27208	$1,020	$1,050	$1,200	$1,510	$1,840
27209	$1,050	$1,120	$1,230	$1,710	$2,060
27242	$1,050	$1,120	$1,230	$1,710	$2,060
27252	$1,280	$1,360	$1,540	$1,910	$2,280
27259	$1,050	$1,120	$1,230	$1,710	$2,060
27281	$1,050	$1,120	$1,230	$1,710	$2,060
27325	$1,020	$1,050	$1,200	$1,510	$1,840
27330	$1,280	$1,360	$1,540	$1,910	$2,280
27341	$880	$920	$1,020	$1,340	$1,600
27356	$1,050	$1,120	$1,230	$1,710	$2,060
27376	$1,050	$1,120	$1,230	$1,710	$2,060
28315	$1,050	$1,120	$1,230	$1,710	$2,060
28326	$1,260	$1,280	$1,490	$2,040	$2,480
28327	$1,260	$1,350	$1,480	$2,060	$2,480
28347	$1,050	$1,120	$1,230	$1,710	$2,060
28350	$1,250	$1,340	$1,460	$2,030	$2,440
28370	$1,050	$1,120	$1,230	$1,710	$2,060
28373	$1,050	$1,120	$1,230	$1,710	$2,060
28374	$1,530	$1,640	$1,800	$2,500	$3,010
28387	$1,050	$1,120	$1,230	$1,710	$2,060
28388	$1,050	$1,120	$1,230	$1,710	$2,060
28394	$1,330	$1,420	$1,550	$2,160	$2,610

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

HUD income limits for Moore County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $106,300 (FY2025: $109,000, −2.5%). 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%)	$22,350 −2.2%	$25,550 −2.1%	$28,750 −2.0%	$33,000 +1.2%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$37,250 −2.1%	$42,550 −2.1%	$47,850 −2.1%	$53,150 −2.1%	$57,450 −2.0%	$61,700 −2.1%	$65,950 −2.1%	$70,200 −2.1%
Low income (80%)	$59,550 −2.1%	$68,050 −2.2%	$76,550 −2.2%	$85,050 −2.1%	$91,900 −2.1%	$98,700 −2.1%	$105,500 −2.1%	$112,300 −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.