Cameron County, TX: 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).

$1,0422-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8841-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$66,95080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$64,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Cameron County is $1,042 a month, down 0.5% from $1,047 in FY2026. Cameron County belongs to the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX 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 Cameron County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$827	$773	+7.0%	$745 – $909
1 bedroom	$884	$866	+2.1%	$796 – $972
2 bedrooms	$1,042	$1,047	−0.5%	$938 – $1,146
3 bedrooms	$1,393	$1,414	−1.5%	$1,254 – $1,532
4 bedrooms	$1,496	$1,479	+1.1%	$1,347 – $1,645

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 Cameron County that is typically $938 to $1,146 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?

$34,595median income of renter households

$912Median gross rent, all units

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

50%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $34,595 can afford about $865 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,042 is $177 (20.5%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $41,680 a year under the 30% rule, or $37,512 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Cameron County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$912 ±$25
Median income of renter households	$34,595 ±$1,664
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	49.8% ±2.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	24.7% ±2.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	43,139

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$733	$912	+24.4%
Median renter household income	$24,769	$34,595	+39.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	53.5%	49.8%	−3.7 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 $1,010 to $1,490 depending on the ZIP code.

All 22 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
78520	$830	$890	$1,050	$1,400	$1,510
78521	$830	$890	$1,050	$1,400	$1,510
78522	$830	$880	$1,040	$1,390	$1,490
78523	$830	$880	$1,040	$1,390	$1,490
78526	$980	$1,040	$1,230	$1,640	$1,770
78535	$930	$1,000	$1,170	$1,570	$1,680
78550	$840	$900	$1,060	$1,420	$1,520
78551	$830	$880	$1,040	$1,390	$1,490
78552	$970	$1,040	$1,220	$1,630	$1,750
78553	$830	$880	$1,040	$1,390	$1,490
78559	$900	$970	$1,140	$1,520	$1,640
78566	$800	$860	$1,010	$1,370	$1,470
78567	$800	$860	$1,010	$1,370	$1,470
78569	$770	$780	$1,010	$1,400	$1,470
78570	$800	$800	$1,010	$1,310	$1,440
78575	$970	$1,040	$1,220	$1,630	$1,750
78578	$800	$860	$1,010	$1,370	$1,470
78583	$800	$860	$1,010	$1,370	$1,470
78586	$800	$860	$1,010	$1,370	$1,470
78592	$850	$910	$1,080	$1,440	$1,550
78593	$810	$870	$1,020	$1,360	$1,460
78597	$1,180	$1,260	$1,490	$1,990	$2,140

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

HUD income limits for Cameron County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $64,600 (FY2025: $66,500, −2.9%). 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%)	$17,600 +5.4%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,250 +5.3%
Very low income (50%)	$29,300 +5.4%	$33,500 +5.3%	$37,700 +5.5%	$41,850 +5.4%	$45,200 +5.4%	$48,550 +5.3%	$51,900 +5.4%	$55,250 +5.3%
Low income (80%)	$46,900 +5.5%	$53,600 +5.5%	$60,300 +5.5%	$66,950 +5.4%	$72,350 +5.5%	$77,700 +5.4%	$83,050 +5.5%	$88,400 +5.4%

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.