Sumter 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).

$1,3382-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0231-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$74,200Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Sumter County is $1,338 a month, up 4.9% from $1,276 in FY2026. Sumter County belongs to the Sumter, SC MSA 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 Sumter County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$932	$880	+5.9%	$839 – $1,025
1 bedroom	$1,023	$972	+5.2%	$921 – $1,125
2 bedrooms	$1,338	$1,276	+4.9%	$1,205 – $1,471
3 bedrooms	$1,594	$1,530	+4.2%	$1,435 – $1,753
4 bedrooms	$2,060	$1,871	+10.1%	$1,854 – $2,266

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 Sumter County that is typically $1,205 to $1,471 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?

$42,069median income of renter households

$1,057Median gross rent, all units

30%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 $42,069 can afford about $1,052 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,338 is $286 (27.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $53,520 a year under the 30% rule, or $48,168 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Sumter County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,057 ±$51
Median income of renter households	$42,069 ±$3,093
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	51.8% ±4.9
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	19.0% ±3.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	11,072

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$800	$1,057	+32.1%
Median renter household income	$30,849	$42,069	+36.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	48.2%	51.8%	+3.6 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 $890 to $1,720 depending on the ZIP code.

All 17 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
29001	$640	$690	$890	$1,130	$1,320
29040	$920	$1,010	$1,320	$1,570	$2,020
29051	$680	$730	$950	$1,160	$1,400
29062	$860	$960	$1,170	$1,420	$1,740
29080	$630	$690	$890	$1,050	$1,280
29102	$650	$690	$900	$1,120	$1,340
29104	$710	$770	$1,000	$1,200	$1,460
29114	$840	$860	$1,010	$1,280	$1,430
29125	$700	$760	$1,000	$1,210	$1,520
29128	$890	$960	$1,250	$1,490	$1,900
29150	$910	$1,000	$1,310	$1,560	$2,020
29151	$930	$1,020	$1,340	$1,600	$2,060
29152	$1,200	$1,310	$1,720	$2,050	$2,650
29153	$850	$940	$1,230	$1,460	$1,880
29154	$1,000	$1,100	$1,440	$1,720	$2,220
29162	$640	$690	$890	$1,100	$1,310
29168	$930	$1,020	$1,330	$1,580	$2,050

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

HUD income limits for Sumter County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $74,200 (FY2025: $70,200, +5.7%). 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 +2.7%	$43,300 +4.6%	$46,300 +4.6%	$49,250 +4.6%
Very low income (50%)	$26,150 +4.6%	$29,850 +4.6%	$33,600 +4.7%	$37,300 +4.6%	$40,300 +4.5%	$43,300 +4.6%	$46,300 +4.6%	$49,250 +4.6%
Low income (80%)	$41,800 +4.6%	$47,800 +4.7%	$53,750 +4.7%	$59,700 +4.6%	$64,500 +4.6%	$69,300 +4.7%	$74,050 +4.7%	$78,850 +4.6%

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.