Maryland · FIPS 24019 · HUD FY 2027
Dorchester County, Maryland Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Dorchester County is $1,159 a month (rent plus utilities), 45% below the Maryland average of $2,103 and 34% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $15 (1.3%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $46,360 a year to afford it.
- $1,1592-bedroom FMR+$15 (+1.3%) vs FY 2026
- $9701-bedroom FMRMaryland: $1,801 · U.S.: $1,478
- $46,360Income for a 2-bedroom$22/hour full-time
- 21 of 242BR rank in Maryland1 = highest rent
| Unit | Dorchester County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Maryland avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $868 | $947 | −$79 (−8.3%) | $1,704 | $1,379 | $34,720 |
| 1 bedroom | $970 | $952 | +$18 (+1.9%) | $1,801 | $1,478 | $38,800 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,159 | $1,144 | +$15 (+1.3%) | $2,103 | $1,761 | $46,360 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,605 | $1,591 | +$14 (+0.9%) | $2,664 | $2,266 | $64,200 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,937 | $1,919 | +$18 (+0.9%) | $3,052 | $2,607 | $77,480 |
How Dorchester County compares
- Dorchester County is a non-metro county, so HUD sets one Fair Market Rent for the whole county.
- Across Maryland, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,014 (Garrett County) to $2,438 (Charles County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $868, $970, $1,159, $1,605, $1,937. HUD derives the other sizes from the 2-bedroom figure with fixed ratios, adjusted where local data warrant.
- HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area FMRs. For the 16 ZIP codes mostly in Dorchester County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,150 to $1,740.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Dorchester County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21613 | $860 | $960 | $1,150 | $1,590 | $1,920 | +$30 (+2.7%) | 1% below |
| 21622 | $870 | $970 | $1,160 | $1,610 | $1,940 | +$20 (+1.8%) | about the same as |
| 21626 | $870 | $970 | $1,160 | $1,610 | $1,940 | +$20 (+1.8%) | about the same as |
| 21627 | $870 | $970 | $1,160 | $1,610 | $1,940 | +$20 (+1.8%) | about the same as |
| 21631 | $1,300 | $1,460 | $1,740 | $2,410 | $2,910 | +$20 (+1.2%) | 50% above |
| 21634 | $870 | $970 | $1,160 | $1,610 | $1,940 | +$20 (+1.8%) | about the same as |
| 21643 | $930 | $990 | $1,190 | $1,630 | $1,970 | −$50 (−4.0%) | 3% above |
| 21648 | $1,110 | $1,120 | $1,350 | $1,870 | $2,250 | −$140 (−9.4%) | 16% above |
| 21659 | $1,110 | $1,210 | $1,470 | $1,980 | $2,380 | +$430 (+41.3%) | 27% above |
| 21664 | $980 | $1,080 | $1,290 | $1,790 | $2,160 | −$20 (−1.5%) | 11% above |
| 21669 | $870 | $970 | $1,160 | $1,610 | $1,940 | +$20 (+1.8%) | about the same as |
| 21672 | $870 | $970 | $1,160 | $1,610 | $1,940 | +$20 (+1.8%) | about the same as |
| 21675 | $870 | $970 | $1,160 | $1,610 | $1,940 | +$20 (+1.8%) | about the same as |
| 21677 | $1,260 | $1,260 | $1,520 | $2,110 | $2,540 | −$160 (−9.5%) | 31% above |
| 21835 | $1,130 | $1,270 | $1,520 | $2,100 | $2,540 | +$190 (+14.3%) | 31% above |
| 21869 | $1,300 | $1,460 | $1,740 | $2,410 | $2,910 | +$80 (+4.8%) | 50% above |
Sources
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD User Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 FMRs (file dated August 26, 2026) and FY 2026 FMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- HUD User Small Area Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 SAFMRs (file dated August 31, 2026) and FY 2026 SAFMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- ZIP-to-county assignment: Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA-to-county relationship file (file dated December 9, 2021), largest land-area overlap.
Fair Market Rents are HUD’s estimate of gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a modest unit, set at the 40th percentile of recent-mover rents. FY 2027 is HUD’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. Housing authorities set voucher payment standards from these figures; check yours.