HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2027 · Effective Oct 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Fair Market Rent in Sussex County, Delaware (FY 2027)
HUD's FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Sussex County is $1,498 a month. That's the number the housing authority starts from when it sets Section 8 payment standards here.
Two-bedroom FMR
$1,498
+7.1% from FY 2026
Payment standard
$1,348–$1,648
90% to 110% of the FMR, two-bedroom
Income to afford
$59,920
a year, with rent at 30% of income
Rank in Delaware
3rd of 3
by two-bedroom FMR, highest first
FY 2027 Fair Market Rents
Payment standard is the 90% to 110% band a housing authority can set. Income needed puts rent at 30% of gross income, and the hourly wage assumes a 40-hour week.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard | Income needed | Hourly wage | vs FY 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,140 | $1,026–$1,254 | $45,600 | $21.92/hr | +7.6% |
| 1 bedroom | $1,147 | $1,032–$1,262 | $45,880 | $22.06/hr | +7.6% |
| 2 bedroom | $1,498 | $1,348–$1,648 | $59,920 | $28.81/hr | +7.1% |
| 3 bedroom | $1,843 | $1,659–$2,027 | $73,720 | $35.44/hr | +4.9% |
| 4 bedroom | $2,222 | $2,000–$2,444 | $88,880 | $42.73/hr | +2.3% |
Five to eight bedrooms (PropMetrics estimates)
HUD stops at four bedrooms. These add 15% of the four-bedroom rent per extra bedroom. It's our estimate, not a HUD number.
| Bedrooms | Estimated FMR | Payment standard |
|---|---|---|
| 5 bedroom Estimate | $2,555 | $2,300–$2,811 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $2,889 | $2,600–$3,178 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $3,222 | $2,900–$3,544 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $3,555 | $3,200–$3,911 |
Source: HUD Office of Policy Development and Research, FY 2027 Fair Market Rents. Rents include utilities. huduser.gov
Market check
HUD's number is one input. What does a two-bedroom in Sussex actually rent for?
Search any address in Sussex for a rent estimate built from nearby comps, with the HUD figure right next to it.
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What a voucher pays here
The voucher doesn't pay the FMR itself. It pays the payment standard. Housing authorities set it anywhere from 90% to 110% of FMR, which puts a two-bedroom standard in Sussex somewhere between $1,348 and $1,648. The tenant pays roughly 30% of their income, the voucher covers the rest up to the standard, and the PHA won't approve a rent above what comparable unassisted units get.
$1,498 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $59,920 a year. Put another way, $29 an hour full time.
Worked example for a two-bedroom renting at the payment standard. The tenant pays 30% of monthly income and the voucher covers the rest.
| Monthly household income | Tenant pays (30%) | Voucher pays at 90%$1,348 | Voucher pays at 100%$1,498 | Voucher pays at 110%$1,648 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $598 | $748 | $898 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $148 | $298 | $448 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went up 7% from FY 2026 ($1,399) to FY 2027 ($1,498). Since FY 2020 it's up 58% in total, about 6.8% a year. The Delaware median moved up 11% over the same year.
| Fiscal year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2BR change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $637 | $731 | $948 | $1,369 | $1,549 | — |
| FY 2021 | $641 | $732 | $965 | $1,306 | $1,506 | +1.8% |
| FY 2022 | $651 | $733 | $964 | $1,289 | $1,515 | -0.1% |
| FY 2023 | $744 | $840 | $1,106 | $1,443 | $1,758 | +14.7% |
| FY 2024 | $909 | $988 | $1,298 | $1,656 | $2,037 | +17.4% |
| FY 2025 | $1,031 | $1,066 | $1,398 | $1,763 | $2,197 | +7.7% |
| FY 2026 | $1,059 | $1,066 | $1,399 | $1,757 | $2,172 | +0.1% |
| FY 2027In effect | $1,140 | $1,147 | $1,498 | $1,843 | $2,222 | +7.1% |
About this rate
Fair Market Rent is HUD's estimate of what a modest, decent unit rents for in an area, utilities included. It's set once a year and runs October to September. For FY 2027 that's October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. In Sussex, that runs from $1,140 for a studio up to $2,222 for four bedrooms, all five rates in the table above.
Because Sussex sits outside any HUD metro area, its rate is a county-wide figure built from local rents. One number covers every address in the county, Bethany Beach included.
Among Delaware's 3 counties, Sussex ranks 3rd for two-bedroom FMR. That's about 8% below the state median of $1,629 and about 41% above the national median county at $1,063. About 255,626 people live here, 2nd in the state.
Rates by ZIP code
Zoom in and the picture changes. HUD's Small Area FMRs put a two-bedroom at $1,260 in 19931 (Bethel) and $2,210 in 19967 (Millville), with the 23 ZIP codes in between. Housing authorities in HUD-designated metros use those ZIP rates instead of the county rate. Everywhere else the ZIP numbers show where rents actually sit, and the county rate stays the official standard.
| ZIP | City | 2BR rate | vs county |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19930 | Bethany Beach | $1,700 | +13.5% |
| 19931 | Bethel | $1,260 | -15.9% |
| 19933 | Bridgeville | $1,260 | -15.9% |
| 19939 | Dagsboro | $1,550 | +3.5% |
| 19940 | Delmar | $1,260 | -15.9% |
| 19941 | Ellendale | $1,520 | +1.5% |
| 19944 | Fenwick Island | $1,590 | +6.1% |
| 19945 | Frankford | $1,480 | -1.2% |
| 19947 | Georgetown | $1,540 | +2.8% |
| 19950 | Greenwood | $1,580 | +5.5% |
| 19951 | Harbeson | $1,640 | +9.5% |
| 19956 | Laurel | $1,260 | -15.9% |
| 19958 | Lewes | $1,950 | +30.2% |
| 19960 | Lincoln | $1,590 | +6.1% |
| 19963 | Milford | $1,470 | -1.9% |
| 19966 | Millsboro | $1,590 | +6.1% |
| 19967 | Millville | $2,210 | +47.5% |
| 19968 | Milton | $1,640 | +9.5% |
| 19969 | Nassau | $1,500 | +0.1% |
| 19970 | Ocean View | $1,760 | +17.5% |
| 19971 | Rehoboth Beach | $1,710 | +14.2% |
| 19973 | Seaford | $1,370 | -8.5% |
| 19975 | Selbyville | $1,570 | +4.8% |
Nearby counties
Two-bedroom FMR, with how each compares to Sussex.
Questions people ask
$1,498 a month for FY 2027, which runs October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. The other rates are $1,140 for a studio, $1,147 for one bedroom, $1,843 for three and $2,222 for four.
Tools for this county
Fair Market Rent lookup
Any ZIP code's Small Area FMR by bedroom count
Section 8 rent calculator
Payment standard and tenant share for a specific rent
What is Fair Market Rent?
How HUD calculates FMR and what it means for landlords
Rent affordability calculator
The income a household needs for a given rent
What does a rental in Sussex actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in Sussex for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. Free to start, no card.
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