Laurens 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).

$1,1192-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9241-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$63,90080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$79,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Laurens County is $1,119 a month, down 1.2% from $1,133 in FY2026. Laurens County belongs to the Laurens 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 Laurens County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$875	$863	+1.4%	$788 – $962
1 bedroom	$924	$869	+6.3%	$832 – $1,016
2 bedrooms	$1,119	$1,133	−1.2%	$1,008 – $1,230
3 bedrooms	$1,333	$1,358	−1.8%	$1,200 – $1,466
4 bedrooms	$1,571	$1,625	−3.3%	$1,414 – $1,728

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 Laurens County that is typically $1,008 to $1,230 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?

$38,667median income of renter households

$880Median gross rent, all units

27%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

47%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $38,667 can afford about $967 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,119 is $152 (15.8%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $44,760 a year under the 30% rule, or $40,284 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Laurens County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$880 ±$40
Median income of renter households	$38,667 ±$4,568
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	46.6% ±6.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	22.0% ±5.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	6,280

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$734	$880	+19.9%
Median renter household income	$29,620	$38,667	+30.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	48.5%	46.6%	−1.9 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.

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 $1,020 to $2,020 depending on the ZIP code.

All 16 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
29037	$930	$1,050	$1,150	$1,470	$1,720
29178	$780	$790	$1,020	$1,230	$1,470
29325	$900	$950	$1,150	$1,370	$1,610
29332	$930	$980	$1,190	$1,410	$1,670
29335	$940	$980	$1,070	$1,300	$1,500
29351	$780	$790	$1,020	$1,230	$1,470
29355	$780	$790	$1,020	$1,230	$1,470
29360	$840	$880	$1,070	$1,270	$1,500
29370	$860	$910	$1,100	$1,310	$1,540
29384	$780	$790	$1,020	$1,230	$1,470
29388	$940	$980	$1,070	$1,300	$1,500
29644	$1,150	$1,200	$1,360	$1,620	$1,910
29645	$1,050	$1,100	$1,210	$1,460	$1,750
29654	$1,050	$1,100	$1,210	$1,460	$1,750
29681	$1,780	$1,850	$2,020	$2,410	$2,850
29692	$780	$790	$1,020	$1,230	$1,470

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

HUD income limits for Laurens County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $79,900 (FY2025: $74,400, +7.4%). 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%)	$16,800 +7.3%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$49,550 +7.4%	$52,750 +7.3%
Very low income (50%)	$28,000 +7.5%	$32,000 +7.4%	$36,000 +7.5%	$39,950 +7.4%	$43,150 +7.3%	$46,350 +7.3%	$49,550 +7.4%	$52,750 +7.3%
Low income (80%)	$44,750 +7.4%	$51,150 +7.5%	$57,550 +7.5%	$63,900 +7.4%	$69,050 +7.4%	$74,150 +7.4%	$79,250 +7.4%	$84,350 +7.4%

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.