Beaufort County, SC: 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).

$2,0102-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,8441-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$90,40080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$113,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Beaufort County is $2,010 a month, up 10.7% from $1,816 in FY2026. Beaufort County belongs to the Beaufort County, SC 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 Beaufort County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,772	$1,582	+12.0%	$1,595 – $1,949
1 bedroom	$1,844	$1,657	+11.3%	$1,660 – $2,028
2 bedrooms	$2,010	$1,816	+10.7%	$1,809 – $2,211
3 bedrooms	$2,395	$2,177	+10.0%	$2,156 – $2,634
4 bedrooms	$2,880	$2,720	+5.9%	$2,592 – $3,168

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 Beaufort County that is typically $1,809 to $2,211 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?

$56,462median income of renter households

$1,653Median gross rent, all units

35%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

53%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $56,462 can afford about $1,412 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $2,010 is $598 (42.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $80,400 a year under the 30% rule, or $72,360 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Beaufort County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,653 ±$70
Median income of renter households	$56,462 ±$3,984
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	52.9% ±3.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	25.0% ±3.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	17,650

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,202	$1,653	+37.5%
Median renter household income	$45,072	$56,462	+25.3%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	52.3%	52.9%	+0.6 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 $1,640 to $2,760 depending on the ZIP code.

All 21 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
29901	$1,770	$1,840	$2,010	$2,390	$2,880
29902	$1,490	$1,550	$1,690	$2,010	$2,450
29903	$1,770	$1,840	$2,010	$2,390	$2,880
29904	$1,620	$1,690	$1,840	$2,190	$2,640
29905	$1,560	$1,620	$1,770	$2,100	$2,530
29906	$1,620	$1,690	$1,840	$2,190	$2,640
29907	$1,980	$2,060	$2,250	$2,680	$3,220
29909	$2,430	$2,530	$2,760	$3,290	$3,920
29910	$2,180	$2,270	$2,470	$2,940	$3,540
29915	$1,850	$1,930	$2,100	$2,500	$2,930
29920	$1,430	$1,500	$1,640	$1,960	$2,450
29925	$1,770	$1,840	$2,010	$2,390	$2,880
29926	$1,800	$1,870	$2,040	$2,430	$2,920
29927	$1,510	$1,570	$1,710	$2,050	$2,450
29928	$1,710	$1,780	$1,940	$2,310	$2,780
29935	$1,570	$1,630	$1,780	$2,120	$2,550
29936	$1,430	$1,500	$1,640	$1,960	$2,450
29938	$1,770	$1,840	$2,010	$2,390	$2,880
29940	$1,430	$1,500	$1,640	$1,960	$2,450
29941	$1,430	$1,500	$1,640	$1,960	$2,450
29945	$1,430	$1,500	$1,640	$1,960	$2,450

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

HUD income limits for Beaufort County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $113,000 (FY2025: $112,500, +0.4%). 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%)	$23,750 +2.6%	$27,150 +2.6%	$30,550 +2.7%	$33,900 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$39,550 +2.5%	$45,200 +2.5%	$50,850 +2.5%	$56,500 +2.5%	$61,050 +2.6%	$65,550 +2.5%	$70,100 +2.6%	$74,600 +2.6%
Low income (80%)	$63,300 +2.6%	$72,350 +2.6%	$81,400 +2.6%	$90,400 +2.6%	$97,650 +2.6%	$104,900 +2.6%	$112,100 +2.6%	$119,350 +2.6%

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.