Lancaster 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).

$1,0692-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9821-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$82,00080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$113,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Lancaster County is $1,069 a month, up 5.7% from $1,011 in FY2026. Lancaster County belongs to the Lancaster 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 Lancaster County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$943	$881	+7.0%	$849 – $1,037
1 bedroom	$982	$922	+6.5%	$884 – $1,080
2 bedrooms	$1,069	$1,011	+5.7%	$963 – $1,175
3 bedrooms	$1,466	$1,382	+6.1%	$1,320 – $1,612
4 bedrooms	$1,787	$1,696	+5.4%	$1,609 – $1,965

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 Lancaster County that is typically $963 to $1,175 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?

$39,332median income of renter households

$959Median gross rent, all units

29%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

57%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $39,332 can afford about $983 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,069 is $86 (8.7%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $42,760 a year under the 30% rule, or $38,484 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Lancaster County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$959 ±$49
Median income of renter households	$39,332 ±$5,563
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	57.1% ±6.9
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	27.4% ±5.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	6,187

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$776	$959	+23.6%
Median renter household income	$27,483	$39,332	+43.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	48.4%	57.1%	+8.7 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 $1,600 depending on the ZIP code.

All 6 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
29058	$800	$830	$910	$1,250	$1,530
29067	$830	$860	$940	$1,250	$1,540
29707	$1,410	$1,470	$1,600	$2,190	$2,670
29718	$800	$830	$910	$1,250	$1,530
29720	$890	$930	$1,010	$1,390	$1,690
29721	$940	$980	$1,070	$1,470	$1,790

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

HUD income limits for Lancaster County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $113,900 (FY2025: $93,700, +21.6%). 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%)	$21,550 +9.9%	$24,600 +9.8%	$27,700 +3.9%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$35,900 +10.0%	$41,000 +9.9%	$46,100 +9.9%	$51,250 +10.0%	$55,350 +9.9%	$59,450 +9.9%	$63,550 +9.9%	$67,650 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$57,400 +10.0%	$65,600 +10.0%	$73,800 +10.0%	$82,000 +10.0%	$88,600 +10.0%	$95,150 +10.0%	$101,650 +10.0%	$108,250 +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.