HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2027 · Effective Oct 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Fair Market Rent in Columbus County, North Carolina (FY 2027)
HUD's FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Columbus County is $1,012 a month. That's the number the housing authority starts from when it sets Section 8 payment standards here.
Two-bedroom FMR
$1,012
+9.4% from FY 2026
Payment standard
$911–$1,113
90% to 110% of the FMR, two-bedroom
Income to afford
$40,480
a year, with rent at 30% of income
Rank in North Carolina
72nd of 100
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 | $858 | $772–$944 | $34,320 | $16.50/hr | +19.5% |
| 1 bedroom | $863 | $777–$949 | $34,520 | $16.60/hr | +19.5% |
| 2 bedroom | $1,012 | $911–$1,113 | $40,480 | $19.46/hr | +9.4% |
| 3 bedroom | $1,206 | $1,085–$1,327 | $48,240 | $23.19/hr | +8.7% |
| 4 bedroom | $1,330 | $1,197–$1,463 | $53,200 | $25.58/hr | +8.6% |
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 | $1,530 | $1,377–$1,683 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $1,729 | $1,556–$1,902 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $1,929 | $1,736–$2,122 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $2,128 | $1,915–$2,341 |
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 Columbus actually rent for?
Search any address in Columbus 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 Columbus somewhere between $911 and $1,113. 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.
$1,012 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $40,480 a year. Put another way, $19 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%$911 | Voucher pays at 100%$1,012 | Voucher pays at 110%$1,113 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $161 | $262 | $363 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went up 9% from FY 2026 ($925) to FY 2027 ($1,012). Since FY 2020 it's up 51% in total, about 6.0% a year. The North Carolina median moved up 5% over the same year.
| Fiscal year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2BR change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $527 | $530 | $671 | $896 | $1,004 | — |
| FY 2021 | $547 | $550 | $693 | $923 | $1,006 | +3.3% |
| FY 2022 | $547 | $550 | $724 | $946 | $1,143 | +4.5% |
| FY 2023 | $582 | $586 | $771 | $962 | $1,209 | +6.5% |
| FY 2024 | $647 | $651 | $856 | $1,035 | $1,140 | +11.0% |
| FY 2025 | $710 | $715 | $938 | $1,130 | $1,244 | +9.6% |
| FY 2026 | $718 | $722 | $925 | $1,109 | $1,225 | -1.4% |
| FY 2027In effect | $858 | $863 | $1,012 | $1,206 | $1,330 | +9.4% |
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 Columbus, that runs from $858 for a studio up to $1,330 for four bedrooms, all five rates in the table above.
Because Columbus 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, Bolton included.
Among North Carolina's 100 counties, Columbus ranks 72nd for two-bedroom FMR. That's about 12% below the state median of $1,145 and about 5% below the national median county at $1,063. About 50,140 people live here, 51st in the state.
Rates by ZIP code
Zoom in and the picture changes. HUD's Small Area FMRs put a two-bedroom at $1,010 in 28424 (Brunswick) and $1,440 in 28436 (Delco), with the 14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28423 | Bolton | $1,150 | +13.6% |
| 28424 | Brunswick | $1,010 | -0.2% |
| 28430 | Cerro Gordo | $1,010 | -0.2% |
| 28431 | Chadbourn | $1,010 | -0.2% |
| 28432 | Clarendon | $1,190 | +17.6% |
| 28436 | Delco | $1,440 | +42.3% |
| 28438 | Evergreen | $1,010 | -0.2% |
| 28439 | Fair Bluff | $1,010 | -0.2% |
| 28442 | Hallsboro | $1,010 | -0.2% |
| 28450 | Lake Waccamaw | $1,280 | +26.5% |
| 28455 | Nakina | $1,010 | -0.2% |
| 28456 | Riegelwood | $1,290 | +27.5% |
| 28463 | Tabor City | $1,010 | -0.2% |
| 28472 | Whiteville | $1,040 | +2.8% |
Nearby counties
Two-bedroom FMR, with how each compares to Columbus.
Bladen County
22 mi · 29,566 people
$1,012
same rate
Brunswick County
28 mi · 152,568 people
$1,574
+56%
Robeson County
41 mi · 116,902 people
$1,012
same rate
New Hanover County
45 mi · 235,229 people
$1,705
+68%
Pender County
45 mi · 65,550 people
$1,199
+18%
Sampson County
48 mi · 59,470 people
$1,012
same rate
Cumberland County
56 mi · 338,545 people
$1,476
+46%
Hoke County
58 mi · 53,835 people
$1,150
+14%
Questions people ask
$1,012 a month for FY 2027, which runs October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. The other rates are $858 for a studio, $863 for one bedroom, $1,206 for three and $1,330 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 Columbus actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in Columbus for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. Free to start, no card.
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