Pamlico 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).

$1,0882-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8781-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$72,55080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$90,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Pamlico County is $1,088 a month, up 1.0% from $1,077 in FY2026. Pamlico County belongs to the Pamlico 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 Pamlico County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$872	$861	+1.3%	$785 – $959
1 bedroom	$878	$866	+1.4%	$791 – $965
2 bedrooms	$1,088	$1,077	+1.0%	$980 – $1,196
3 bedrooms	$1,309	$1,291	+1.4%	$1,179 – $1,439
4 bedrooms	$1,646	$1,618	+1.7%	$1,482 – $1,810

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 Pamlico County that is typically $980 to $1,196 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?

$33,376median income of renter households

$752Median gross rent, all units

27%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

48%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $33,376 can afford about $834 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,088 is $254 (30.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $43,520 a year under the 30% rule, or $39,168 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Pamlico County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$752 ±$113
Median income of renter households	$33,376 ±$3,301
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	47.9% ±22.0
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	13.7% ±4.3
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	633

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$767	$752	−2.0%
Median renter household income	$37,500	$33,376	−11.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	46.3%	47.9%	+1.6 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.

HUD income limits for Pamlico County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $90,700 (FY2025: $92,500, −1.9%). 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%)	$19,050 +5.2%	$21,800 +3.1%	$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%)	$31,750 +5.1%	$36,300 +5.2%	$40,850 +5.3%	$45,350 +5.2%	$49,000 +5.3%	$52,650 +5.3%	$56,250 +5.2%	$59,900 +5.3%
Low income (80%)	$50,800 +5.2%	$58,050 +5.2%	$65,300 +5.2%	$72,550 +5.2%	$78,400 +5.2%	$84,200 +5.3%	$90,000 +5.3%	$95,800 +5.2%

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.