Darlington 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).

$1,0932-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8741-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$69,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Darlington County is $1,093 a month, down 0.5% from $1,098 in FY2026. Darlington County belongs to the Darlington 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 Darlington County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$868	$850	+2.1%	$782 – $954
1 bedroom	$874	$856	+2.1%	$787 – $961
2 bedrooms	$1,093	$1,098	−0.5%	$984 – $1,202
3 bedrooms	$1,302	$1,317	−1.1%	$1,172 – $1,432
4 bedrooms	$1,523	$1,499	+1.6%	$1,371 – $1,675

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 Darlington County that is typically $984 to $1,202 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?

$28,417median income of renter households

$896Median gross rent, all units

38%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

56%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $28,417 can afford about $710 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,093 is $383 (53.9%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $43,720 a year under the 30% rule, or $39,348 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Darlington County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$896 ±$35
Median income of renter households	$28,417 ±$1,460
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	56.4% ±5.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	30.0% ±4.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	6,186

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$675	$896	+32.7%
Median renter household income	$22,965	$28,417	+23.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	53.1%	56.4%	+3.3 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 $990 to $1,270 depending on the ZIP code.

All 11 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
29069	$810	$820	$1,030	$1,220	$1,420
29079	$850	$850	$1,070	$1,280	$1,490
29101	$770	$780	$990	$1,190	$1,350
29161	$940	$950	$1,100	$1,390	$1,510
29501	$1,100	$1,110	$1,270	$1,630	$1,750
29506	$860	$860	$1,010	$1,300	$1,430
29532	$870	$880	$1,100	$1,310	$1,530
29540	$820	$820	$1,030	$1,230	$1,430
29550	$850	$850	$1,070	$1,280	$1,490
29551	$870	$870	$1,090	$1,300	$1,520
29593	$920	$940	$1,190	$1,460	$1,650

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

HUD income limits for Darlington County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $69,600 (FY2025: $67,800, +2.7%). 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.