Chester 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).

$1,1032-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8501-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$59,70080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$67,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Chester County is $1,103 a month, up 4.5% from $1,056 in FY2026. Chester County belongs to the Chester 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 Chester County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$844	$811	+4.1%	$760 – $928
1 bedroom	$850	$816	+4.2%	$765 – $935
2 bedrooms	$1,103	$1,056	+4.5%	$993 – $1,213
3 bedrooms	$1,515	$1,469	+3.1%	$1,364 – $1,666
4 bedrooms	$1,593	$1,547	+3.0%	$1,434 – $1,752

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 Chester County that is typically $993 to $1,213 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?

$36,447median income of renter households

$853Median gross rent, all units

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

45%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $36,447 can afford about $911 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,103 is $192 (21.1%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $44,120 a year under the 30% rule, or $39,708 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Chester County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$853 ±$66
Median income of renter households	$36,447 ±$6,613
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	45.3% ±6.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.7% ±5.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	2,390

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$661	$853	+29.0%
Median renter household income	$19,445	$36,447	+87.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	52.6%	45.3%	−7.3 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 $1,560 depending on the ZIP code.

All 11 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
29014	$930	$1,050	$1,150	$1,470	$1,720
29031	$930	$1,050	$1,180	$1,560	$1,720
29055	$930	$1,050	$1,150	$1,470	$1,720
29704	$1,180	$1,210	$1,370	$1,770	$2,140
29706	$780	$790	$1,020	$1,400	$1,470
29712	$1,210	$1,230	$1,480	$1,940	$2,210
29714	$1,190	$1,200	$1,560	$2,140	$2,250
29724	$860	$860	$1,100	$1,510	$1,640
29729	$1,080	$1,090	$1,410	$1,940	$2,040
29730	$1,360	$1,410	$1,540	$1,880	$2,390
29742	$1,170	$1,220	$1,350	$1,670	$2,080

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

HUD income limits for Chester County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $67,400 (FY2025: $66,300, +1.7%). 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%)	$15,960 +2.0%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +3.1%	$43,300 +7.4%	$46,300 +7.5%	$49,250 +7.4%
Very low income (50%)	$26,150 +7.6%	$29,850 +7.6%	$33,600 +7.5%	$37,300 +7.5%	$40,300 +7.5%	$43,300 +7.4%	$46,300 +7.5%	$49,250 +7.4%
Low income (80%)	$41,800 +7.6%	$47,800 +7.7%	$53,750 +7.6%	$59,700 +7.6%	$64,500 +7.6%	$69,300 +7.6%	$74,050 +7.6%	$78,850 +7.6%

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.