HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2026 · effective Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026
Fair Market Rent in Dorchester County, Maryland (FY 2026)
A two-bedroom in Dorchester County carries a FY 2026 Fair Market Rent of $1,144 a month, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Everything Section 8 pays in Dorchester keys off that figure.
2 bedroom FMR
$1,144
FY 2026, utilities included
Payment standard range
$1,030 to $1,258
90% to 110% of FMR
Income to afford 2BR
$45,760
per year, at 30% of income
Rank in Maryland
22nd of 24
by 2BR FMR
HUD has already published FY 2027. On October 1, 2026 the two-bedroom rate in Dorchester moves to $1,159. That's up 1%. The full FY 2027 table is in the history section below.
HUD's number is one input. What does a two-bedroom in Dorchester actually rent for?
Search any address in Dorchester for a rent estimate built from nearby comps, with the HUD figure right next to it.
FY 2026 Fair Market Rents
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard | Income needed | Hourly wage | vs FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $947 | $852 to $1,042 | $37,880 | $18.21/hr | +3.3% |
| 1 bedroom | $952 | $857 to $1,047 | $38,080 | $18.31/hr | +3.1% |
| 2 bedroom | $1,144 | $1,030 to $1,258 | $45,760 | $22.00/hr | -0.9% |
| 3 bedroom | $1,591 | $1,432 to $1,750 | $63,640 | $30.60/hr | -1.6% |
| 4 bedroom | $1,919 | $1,727 to $2,111 | $76,760 | $36.90/hr | -1.0% |
5 to 8 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 | $2,207 | $1,986 to $2,428 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $2,495 | $2,246 to $2,745 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $2,783 | $2,505 to $3,061 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $3,070 | $2,763 to $3,377 |
Source: HUD Office of Policy Development and Research, FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. Rents include utilities. huduser.gov
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 2026 that's October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. In Dorchester, that runs from $947 for a studio up to $1,919 for four bedrooms, all five rates in the table above.
Because Dorchester 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, Cambridge included.
Among Maryland's 24 counties, Dorchester ranks 22nd for two-bedroom FMR. That's about 38% below the state median of $1,845 and about 12% above the national median county at $1,018. About 32,557 people live here, 21st in the state.
Rates by ZIP code
Zoom in and the picture changes. HUD's Small Area FMRs put a two-bedroom at $1,040 in 21659 (Rhodesdale) and $1,720 in 21631 (East New Market), with the 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21613 | Cambridge | $1,120 | -2.1% |
| 21622 | Church Creek | $1,140 | -0.3% |
| 21626 | Crapo | $1,140 | -0.3% |
| 21627 | Crocheron | $1,140 | -0.3% |
| 21631 | East New Market | $1,720 | +50.3% |
| 21634 | Fishing Creek | $1,140 | -0.3% |
| 21643 | Hurlock | $1,240 | +8.4% |
| 21648 | Madison | $1,490 | +30.2% |
| 21659 | Rhodesdale | $1,040 | -9.1% |
| 21664 | Secretary | $1,310 | +14.5% |
| 21669 | Taylors Island | $1,140 | -0.3% |
| 21672 | Toddville | $1,140 | -0.3% |
| 21675 | Wingate | $1,140 | -0.3% |
| 21677 | Woolford | $1,680 | +46.9% |
| 21835 | Linkwood | $1,330 | +16.3% |
| 21869 | Vienna | $1,660 | +45.1% |
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 Dorchester somewhere between $1,030 and $1,258. 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.
$1,144 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $45,760 a year. Put another way, $22 an hour full time.
Worked example for a two-bedroom, assuming the rent equals the payment standard. Tenant pays 30% of monthly income, HUD's housing assistance payment covers the rest.
| Monthly household income | Tenant pays (30%) | HAP at 90% ($1,030) | HAP at 100% ($1,144) | HAP at 110% ($1,258) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $280 | $394 | $508 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $0 | $0 | $58 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went down 1% from FY 2025 ($1,154) to FY 2026 ($1,144). Since FY 2020 it's up 25% in total, about 3.8% a year. The Maryland median moved down 3% over the same year.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2BR change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $783 | $784 | $917 | $1,268 | $1,393 | — |
| FY 2021 | $748 | $753 | $902 | $1,240 | $1,367 | -1.6% |
| FY 2022 | $726 | $731 | $894 | $1,255 | $1,485 | -0.9% |
| FY 2023 | $784 | $789 | $991 | $1,408 | $1,688 | +10.9% |
| FY 2024 | $890 | $896 | $1,121 | $1,580 | $1,902 | +13.1% |
| FY 2025 | $917 | $923 | $1,154 | $1,617 | $1,938 | +2.9% |
| FY 2026 | $947 | $952 | $1,144 | $1,591 | $1,919 | -0.9% |
| FY 2027 | $868 | $970 | $1,159 | $1,605 | $1,937 | +1.3% |
Nearby counties
Talbot County
$1,40923 mi · pop 37,663
Wicomico County
$1,37823 mi · pop 103,815
Calvert County
$2,08327 mi · pop 93,244
Somerset County
$1,16730 mi · pop 24,672
St. Mary's County
$1,83332 mi · pop 113,814
Caroline County
$1,31434 mi · pop 33,320
Queen Anne's County
$1,85741 mi · pop 50,316
Worcester County
$1,19442 mi · pop 52,827
Questions people ask
$1,144 a month for FY 2026, which runs October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The other rates are $947 for a studio, $952 for one bedroom, $1,591 for three and $1,919 for four.
Tools for this county
Fair Market Rent lookup
Look up any ZIP code's Small Area FMR by bedroom count.
Section 8 rent calculator
Work out the 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
See what income a household needs for a given rent.
What does a rental in Dorchester actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in Dorchester for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. 3 free searches, no card.
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