Rowan 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).

$1,2622-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0121-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$66,70080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$79,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Rowan County is $1,262 a month, up 5.5% from $1,196 in FY2026. Rowan County belongs to the Rowan County, NC HUD Metro FMR Area 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 Rowan County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$992	$952	+4.2%	$893 – $1,091
1 bedroom	$1,012	$958	+5.6%	$911 – $1,113
2 bedrooms	$1,262	$1,196	+5.5%	$1,136 – $1,388
3 bedrooms	$1,604	$1,573	+2.0%	$1,444 – $1,764
4 bedrooms	$2,109	$2,006	+5.1%	$1,899 – $2,319

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 Rowan County that is typically $1,136 to $1,388 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?

$44,167median income of renter households

$1,013Median gross rent, all units

28%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

47%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $44,167 can afford about $1,104 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,262 is $158 (14.3%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $50,480 a year under the 30% rule, or $45,432 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Rowan County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,013 ±$35
Median income of renter households	$44,167 ±$5,838
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	46.7% ±3.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	25.8% ±3.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	14,884

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$772	$1,013	+31.2%
Median renter household income	$32,016	$44,167	+38.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	41.2%	46.7%	+5.5 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 $1,020 to $2,040 depending on the ZIP code.

All 22 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
27013	$1,060	$1,100	$1,210	$1,630	$2,030
27054	$890	$940	$1,100	$1,430	$1,820
28023	$950	$970	$1,210	$1,540	$2,020
28036	$1,800	$1,880	$2,040	$2,510	$3,190
28039	$1,030	$1,050	$1,310	$1,660	$2,190
28041	$900	$910	$1,140	$1,450	$1,910
28071	$900	$930	$1,120	$1,420	$1,820
28072	$900	$910	$1,140	$1,450	$1,910
28081	$1,130	$1,170	$1,350	$1,670	$2,160
28083	$1,220	$1,260	$1,420	$1,750	$2,250
28088	$1,030	$1,060	$1,280	$1,600	$2,090
28115	$1,300	$1,360	$1,490	$1,970	$2,480
28125	$1,100	$1,130	$1,390	$1,780	$2,330
28127	$790	$790	$1,020	$1,380	$1,520
28137	$1,000	$1,010	$1,310	$1,770	$1,940
28138	$990	$1,010	$1,250	$1,580	$2,070
28144	$1,030	$1,050	$1,310	$1,660	$2,190
28145	$990	$1,010	$1,260	$1,600	$2,110
28146	$900	$910	$1,140	$1,450	$1,910
28147	$1,040	$1,060	$1,320	$1,680	$2,210
28159	$1,010	$1,030	$1,290	$1,640	$2,160
28625	$1,020	$1,070	$1,160	$1,540	$1,940

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

HUD income limits for Rowan County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $79,000 (FY2025: $89,800, −12.0%). 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%)	$17,500 −5.1%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,050 +1.7%
Very low income (50%)	$29,200 −4.9%	$33,400 −4.8%	$37,550 −4.8%	$41,700 −4.9%	$45,050 −5.0%	$48,400 −4.9%	$51,750 −4.8%	$55,050 −4.8%
Low income (80%)	$46,700 −5.0%	$53,400 −4.9%	$60,050 −4.9%	$66,700 −4.9%	$72,050 −4.9%	$77,400 −4.9%	$82,750 −4.9%	$88,050 −4.9%

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.