Horry 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).

$1,5042-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,2581-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$68,80080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$86,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Horry County is $1,504 a month, up 2.7% from $1,465 in FY2026. Horry County belongs to the Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway, 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 Horry County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,155	$1,145	+0.9%	$1,040 – $1,270
1 bedroom	$1,258	$1,229	+2.4%	$1,133 – $1,383
2 bedrooms	$1,504	$1,465	+2.7%	$1,354 – $1,654
3 bedrooms	$1,823	$1,805	+1.0%	$1,641 – $2,005
4 bedrooms	$1,981	$2,111	−6.2%	$1,783 – $2,179

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 Horry County that is typically $1,354 to $1,654 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?

$47,911median income of renter households

$1,255Median gross rent, all units

31%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

52%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $47,911 can afford about $1,198 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,504 is $306 (25.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $60,160 a year under the 30% rule, or $54,144 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Horry County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,255 ±$35
Median income of renter households	$47,911 ±$2,932
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	52.0% ±3.0
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	26.6% ±2.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	32,601

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$959	$1,255	+30.9%
Median renter household income	$35,985	$47,911	+33.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	52.3%	52.0%	−0.3 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 $1,320 to $1,870 depending on the ZIP code.

All 21 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
29511	$1,040	$1,110	$1,320	$1,630	$1,900
29526	$1,040	$1,110	$1,320	$1,630	$1,900
29527	$1,040	$1,110	$1,320	$1,630	$1,900
29528	$1,150	$1,250	$1,500	$1,820	$1,980
29544	$1,040	$1,110	$1,320	$1,630	$1,900
29545	$1,040	$1,110	$1,320	$1,630	$1,900
29566	$1,330	$1,450	$1,730	$2,100	$2,280
29568	$1,440	$1,560	$1,870	$2,270	$2,460
29569	$1,040	$1,110	$1,320	$1,630	$1,900
29572	$1,150	$1,250	$1,500	$1,820	$1,980
29575	$1,220	$1,330	$1,590	$1,930	$2,090
29576	$1,300	$1,410	$1,720	$2,080	$2,420
29577	$1,090	$1,190	$1,420	$1,720	$1,900
29578	$1,150	$1,250	$1,500	$1,820	$1,980
29579	$1,410	$1,540	$1,840	$2,230	$2,420
29581	$1,040	$1,110	$1,320	$1,630	$1,900
29582	$1,190	$1,300	$1,550	$1,880	$2,040
29587	$1,150	$1,250	$1,500	$1,820	$1,980
29588	$1,180	$1,290	$1,540	$1,870	$2,030
29597	$1,150	$1,250	$1,500	$1,820	$1,980
29598	$1,150	$1,250	$1,500	$1,820	$1,980

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

HUD income limits for Horry County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $86,000 (FY2025: $87,200, −1.4%). 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%)	$18,100 −0.8%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$30,100 −1.0%	$34,400 −0.9%	$38,700 −1.0%	$43,000 −0.9%	$46,450 −1.0%	$49,900 −0.9%	$53,350 −0.9%	$56,800 −0.9%
Low income (80%)	$48,200 −0.9%	$55,050 −1.0%	$61,950 −1.0%	$68,800 −0.9%	$74,350 −0.9%	$79,850 −0.9%	$85,350 −0.9%	$90,850 −0.9%

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.