Union 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).

$1,0032-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7671-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$63,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Union County is $1,003 a month, down 3.4% from $1,038 in FY2026. Union County belongs to the Union 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 Union County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$762	$786	−3.1%	$686 – $838
1 bedroom	$767	$791	−3.0%	$691 – $843
2 bedrooms	$1,003	$1,038	−3.4%	$903 – $1,103
3 bedrooms	$1,286	$1,270	+1.3%	$1,158 – $1,414
4 bedrooms	$1,318	$1,374	−4.1%	$1,187 – $1,449

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 Union County that is typically $903 to $1,103 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?

$27,025median income of renter households

$804Median gross rent, all units

36%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

53%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $27,025 can afford about $676 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,003 is $327 (48.5%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,120 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,108 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Union County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$804 ±$142
Median income of renter households	$27,025 ±$4,221
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	52.5% ±5.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	16.3% ±3.3
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	2,582

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$690	$804	+16.5%
Median renter household income	$28,785	$27,025	−6.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	41.7%	52.5%	+10.8 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 $940 to $1,180 depending on the ZIP code.

All 9 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
29031	$930	$1,050	$1,180	$1,560	$1,720
29178	$780	$790	$1,020	$1,230	$1,470
29321	$750	$760	$970	$1,240	$1,290
29335	$940	$980	$1,070	$1,300	$1,500
29353	$710	$720	$940	$1,150	$1,240
29364	$860	$860	$1,130	$1,450	$1,490
29372	$940	$980	$1,070	$1,300	$1,500
29374	$940	$980	$1,070	$1,300	$1,500
29379	$770	$770	$1,010	$1,300	$1,330

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

HUD income limits for Union County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $63,100 (FY2025: $63,200, −0.2%). 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 +5.3%	$43,300 +9.8%	$46,300 +9.7%	$49,250 +9.7%
Very low income (50%)	$26,150 +9.9%	$29,850 +9.7%	$33,600 +9.8%	$37,300 +9.7%	$40,300 +9.7%	$43,300 +9.8%	$46,300 +9.7%	$49,250 +9.7%
Low income (80%)	$41,800 +9.7%	$47,800 +9.8%	$53,750 +9.7%	$59,700 +9.7%	$64,500 +9.7%	$69,300 +9.7%	$74,050 +9.7%	$78,850 +9.7%

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.