Onslow 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).

$1,3192-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0731-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$68,30080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$85,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Onslow County is $1,319 a month, up 12.4% from $1,173 in FY2026. Onslow County belongs to the Jacksonville, 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 Onslow County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,067	$929	+14.9%	$961 – $1,173
1 bedroom	$1,073	$935	+14.8%	$966 – $1,180
2 bedrooms	$1,319	$1,173	+12.4%	$1,188 – $1,450
3 bedrooms	$1,826	$1,631	+12.0%	$1,644 – $2,008
4 bedrooms	$2,205	$1,968	+12.0%	$1,985 – $2,425

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 Onslow County that is typically $1,188 to $1,450 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?

$48,623median income of renter households

$1,265Median gross rent, all units

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

51%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $48,623 can afford about $1,216 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,319 is $103 (8.5%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $52,760 a year under the 30% rule, or $47,484 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Onslow County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,265 ±$40
Median income of renter households	$48,623 ±$2,296
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	50.7% ±4.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	22.9% ±2.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	25,415

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$997	$1,265	+26.9%
Median renter household income	$40,990	$48,623	+18.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	47.2%	50.7%	+3.5 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 $1,060 to $1,870 depending on the ZIP code.

All 19 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
28445	$1,110	$1,180	$1,400	$1,950	$2,350
28454	$1,450	$1,550	$1,840	$2,550	$3,080
28460	$1,340	$1,350	$1,660	$2,300	$2,770
28518	$840	$850	$1,090	$1,470	$1,780
28521	$850	$860	$1,100	$1,470	$1,780
28539	$1,030	$1,030	$1,270	$1,760	$2,120
28540	$1,010	$1,020	$1,250	$1,730	$2,090
28541	$1,070	$1,070	$1,320	$1,830	$2,210
28542	$1,510	$1,520	$1,870	$2,590	$3,130
28543	$1,240	$1,240	$1,530	$2,120	$2,560
28544	$1,040	$1,050	$1,290	$1,790	$2,160
28545	$1,070	$1,070	$1,320	$1,830	$2,210
28546	$1,100	$1,110	$1,360	$1,880	$2,270
28547	$1,280	$1,290	$1,580	$2,190	$2,640
28555	$1,060	$1,070	$1,310	$1,740	$2,200
28572	$840	$850	$1,060	$1,470	$1,780
28574	$990	$990	$1,220	$1,690	$2,040
28582	$950	$950	$1,220	$1,610	$2,030
28584	$1,230	$1,240	$1,580	$2,080	$2,640

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

HUD income limits for Onslow County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $85,400 (FY2025: $80,800, +5.7%). 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%)	$17,950 +5.6%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +4.4%
Very low income (50%)	$29,900 +5.7%	$34,200 +5.7%	$38,450 +5.6%	$42,700 +5.7%	$46,150 +5.7%	$49,550 +5.7%	$52,950 +5.7%	$56,400 +5.7%
Low income (80%)	$47,850 +5.6%	$54,650 +5.6%	$61,500 +5.7%	$68,300 +5.6%	$73,800 +5.7%	$79,250 +5.7%	$84,700 +5.6%	$90,200 +5.7%

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.