Maryland · FIPS 24027 · HUD FY 2027
Howard County, Maryland Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Howard County is $2,006 a month (rent plus utilities), 5% below the Maryland average of $2,103 and 14% above the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $149 (8.0%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $80,240 a year to afford it.
- $2,0062-bedroom FMR+$149 (+8.0%) vs FY 2026
- $1,6251-bedroom FMRMaryland: $1,801 · U.S.: $1,478
- $80,240Income for a 2-bedroom$39/hour full-time
- 5 of 242BR rank in Maryland1 = highest rent
| Unit | Howard County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Maryland avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,523 | $1,362 | +$161 (+11.8%) | $1,704 | $1,379 | $60,920 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,625 | $1,511 | +$114 (+7.5%) | $1,801 | $1,478 | $65,000 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,006 | $1,857 | +$149 (+8.0%) | $2,103 | $1,761 | $80,240 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,509 | $2,358 | +$151 (+6.4%) | $2,664 | $2,266 | $100,360 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,789 | $2,611 | +$178 (+6.8%) | $3,052 | $2,607 | $111,560 |
How Howard County compares
- HUD sets this rent for the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro FMR area, which covers 2,849,436 residents in 7 counties.
- Across Maryland, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,014 (Garrett County) to $2,438 (Charles County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $1,523, $1,625, $2,006, $2,509, $2,789. 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 20 ZIP codes mostly in Howard County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,940 to $2,730.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Howard County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20701 | $2,060 | $2,190 | $2,710 | $3,390 | $3,770 | +$10 (+0.4%) | 35% above |
| 20723 | $1,910 | $2,030 | $2,510 | $3,140 | $3,490 | +$190 (+8.2%) | 25% above |
| 20759 | $2,090 | $2,200 | $2,570 | $3,240 | $3,710 | no change | 28% above |
| 20763 | $1,920 | $2,050 | $2,530 | $3,160 | $3,520 | +$230 (+10.0%) | 26% above |
| 20777 | $1,930 | $2,060 | $2,540 | $3,180 | $3,540 | −$180 (−6.6%) | 27% above |
| 20794 | $1,910 | $2,040 | $2,520 | $3,150 | $3,500 | +$220 (+9.6%) | 26% above |
| 21029 | $2,060 | $2,190 | $2,660 | $3,340 | $3,740 | −$130 (−4.7%) | 33% above |
| 21036 | $2,160 | $2,270 | $2,600 | $3,290 | $3,810 | −$90 (−3.3%) | 30% above |
| 21042 | $2,000 | $2,140 | $2,640 | $3,300 | $3,670 | +$160 (+6.5%) | 32% above |
| 21043 | $1,880 | $2,010 | $2,480 | $3,100 | $3,450 | +$200 (+8.8%) | 24% above |
| 21044 | $2,070 | $2,210 | $2,730 | $3,410 | $3,800 | +$250 (+10.1%) | 36% above |
| 21045 | $1,700 | $1,810 | $2,240 | $2,800 | $3,110 | +$190 (+9.3%) | 12% above |
| 21046 | $2,000 | $2,140 | $2,640 | $3,300 | $3,670 | +$150 (+6.0%) | 32% above |
| 21075 | $1,980 | $2,110 | $2,610 | $3,260 | $3,630 | +$220 (+9.2%) | 30% above |
| 21104 | $1,590 | $1,740 | $2,130 | $2,760 | $3,130 | −$230 (−9.7%) | 6% above |
| 21723 | $1,550 | $1,720 | $2,120 | $2,690 | $2,970 | −$230 (−9.8%) | 6% above |
| 21737 | $1,930 | $2,060 | $2,540 | $3,180 | $3,530 | +$190 (+8.1%) | 27% above |
| 21738 | $1,930 | $2,060 | $2,540 | $3,180 | $3,530 | +$190 (+8.1%) | 27% above |
| 21794 | $1,930 | $2,060 | $2,540 | $3,180 | $3,530 | +$190 (+8.1%) | 27% above |
| 21797 | $1,530 | $1,640 | $1,940 | $2,450 | $2,790 | −$210 (−9.8%) | 3% below |
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.