Kershaw 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).

$9542-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8431-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$74,25080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$97,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Kershaw County is $954 a month, down 5.5% from $1,009 in FY2026. Kershaw County belongs to the Kershaw 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 Kershaw County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$841	$844	−0.4%	$757 – $925
1 bedroom	$843	$849	−0.7%	$759 – $927
2 bedrooms	$954	$1,009	−5.5%	$859 – $1,049
3 bedrooms	$1,156	$1,214	−4.8%	$1,041 – $1,271
4 bedrooms	$1,465	$1,458	+0.5%	$1,319 – $1,611

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 Kershaw County that is typically $859 to $1,049 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?

$35,966median income of renter households

$971Median gross rent, all units

32%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

55%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $35,966 can afford about $899 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $954 is $55 (6.1%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $38,160 a year under the 30% rule, or $34,344 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Kershaw County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$971 ±$75
Median income of renter households	$35,966 ±$9,092
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	54.8% ±6.1
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	26.2% ±5.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	3,817

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$775	$971	+25.3%
Median renter household income	$33,042	$35,966	+8.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	47.7%	54.8%	+7.1 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 $910 to $1,330 depending on the ZIP code.

All 14 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
29009	$1,030	$1,040	$1,180	$1,430	$1,810
29010	$760	$770	$910	$1,100	$1,320
29020	$820	$820	$930	$1,130	$1,420
29021	$840	$840	$950	$1,150	$1,460
29032	$770	$780	$910	$1,100	$1,350
29045	$1,130	$1,190	$1,330	$1,640	$1,980
29058	$800	$830	$910	$1,250	$1,530
29067	$830	$860	$940	$1,250	$1,540
29074	$790	$830	$920	$1,180	$1,430
29078	$930	$1,050	$1,150	$1,470	$1,720
29128	$890	$960	$1,250	$1,490	$1,900
29130	$930	$1,050	$1,150	$1,470	$1,720
29175	$830	$850	$940	$1,220	$1,510
29718	$800	$830	$910	$1,250	$1,530

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

HUD income limits for Kershaw County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $97,800 (FY2025: $84,400, +15.9%). 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%)	$19,500 +9.9%	$22,300 +5.4%	$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%)	$32,500 +10.0%	$37,150 +9.9%	$41,800 +10.0%	$46,400 +10.0%	$50,150 +10.0%	$53,850 +9.9%	$57,550 +9.9%	$61,250 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$51,950 +9.9%	$59,400 +10.0%	$66,800 +10.0%	$74,250 +10.0%	$80,150 +9.9%	$86,100 +10.0%	$92,050 +10.0%	$98,000 +10.0%

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.