Clarendon 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).

$8852-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$6771-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$73,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Clarendon County is $885 a month, down 1.9% from $902 in FY2026. Clarendon County belongs to the Clarendon County, SC 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 Clarendon County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$643	$683	−5.9%	$579 – $707
1 bedroom	$677	$687	−1.5%	$610 – $744
2 bedrooms	$885	$902	−1.9%	$797 – $973
3 bedrooms	$1,105	$1,205	−8.3%	$995 – $1,215
4 bedrooms	$1,314	$1,380	−4.8%	$1,183 – $1,445

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 Clarendon County that is typically $797 to $973 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?

$26,049median income of renter households

$763Median gross rent, all units

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

54%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $26,049 can afford about $651 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $885 is $234 (35.9%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $35,400 a year under the 30% rule, or $31,860 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Clarendon County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$763 ±$39
Median income of renter households	$26,049 ±$2,745
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	54.0% ±8.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	21.2% ±5.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	2,542

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$606	$763	+25.9%
Median renter household income	$21,142	$26,049	+23.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	48.1%	54.0%	+5.9 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 Clarendon County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $73,800 (FY2025: $71,200, +3.7%). 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 +2.7%	$43,300 +4.8%	$46,300 +4.9%	$49,250 +4.8%
Very low income (50%)	$26,150 +4.8%	$29,850 +4.7%	$33,600 +4.8%	$37,300 +4.8%	$40,300 +4.8%	$43,300 +4.8%	$46,300 +4.9%	$49,250 +4.8%
Low income (80%)	$41,800 +4.8%	$47,800 +4.8%	$53,750 +4.8%	$59,700 +4.8%	$64,500 +4.8%	$69,300 +4.8%	$74,050 +4.8%	$78,850 +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.