North Carolina · FIPS 37047 · HUD FY 2027
Columbus County, North Carolina Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Columbus County is $1,012 a month (rent plus utilities), 30% below the North Carolina average of $1,441 and 43% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $87 (9.4%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $40,480 a year to afford it.
- $1,0122-bedroom FMR+$87 (+9.4%) vs FY 2026
- $8631-bedroom FMRNorth Carolina: $1,282 · U.S.: $1,478
- $40,480Income for a 2-bedroom$19/hour full-time
- 66 of 1002BR rank in North Carolina1 = highest rent
| Unit | Columbus County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $858 | $718 | +$140 (+19.5%) | $1,215 | $1,379 | $34,320 |
| 1 bedroom | $863 | $722 | +$141 (+19.5%) | $1,282 | $1,478 | $34,520 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,012 | $925 | +$87 (+9.4%) | $1,441 | $1,761 | $40,480 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,206 | $1,109 | +$97 (+8.7%) | $1,823 | $2,266 | $48,240 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,330 | $1,225 | +$105 (+8.6%) | $2,256 | $2,607 | $53,200 |
How Columbus County compares
- Columbus County is a non-metro county, so HUD sets one Fair Market Rent for the whole county.
- Across North Carolina, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,012 (Wilkes County) to $1,866 (Buncombe County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $858, $863, $1,012, $1,206, $1,330. 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 14 ZIP codes mostly in Columbus County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,010 to $1,440.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Columbus County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28423 | $970 | $970 | $1,150 | $1,400 | $1,520 | +$50 (+4.5%) | 14% above |
| 28424 | $860 | $860 | $1,010 | $1,210 | $1,330 | +$80 (+8.6%) | about the same as |
| 28430 | $860 | $860 | $1,010 | $1,210 | $1,330 | +$80 (+8.6%) | about the same as |
| 28431 | $860 | $860 | $1,010 | $1,210 | $1,330 | +$80 (+8.6%) | about the same as |
| 28432 | $1,010 | $1,020 | $1,190 | $1,420 | $1,560 | +$60 (+5.3%) | 18% above |
| 28436 | $1,220 | $1,230 | $1,440 | $1,790 | $2,160 | +$110 (+8.3%) | 42% above |
| 28438 | $860 | $860 | $1,010 | $1,210 | $1,330 | +$80 (+8.6%) | about the same as |
| 28439 | $860 | $860 | $1,010 | $1,210 | $1,330 | +$20 (+2.0%) | about the same as |
| 28442 | $860 | $860 | $1,010 | $1,210 | $1,330 | +$80 (+8.6%) | about the same as |
| 28450 | $1,090 | $1,090 | $1,280 | $1,530 | $1,680 | +$90 (+7.6%) | 26% above |
| 28455 | $860 | $860 | $1,010 | $1,210 | $1,330 | +$60 (+6.3%) | about the same as |
| 28456 | $1,120 | $1,180 | $1,290 | $1,790 | $2,160 | +$130 (+11.2%) | 27% above |
| 28463 | $860 | $860 | $1,010 | $1,210 | $1,330 | +$80 (+8.6%) | about the same as |
| 28472 | $880 | $890 | $1,040 | $1,240 | $1,370 | +$100 (+10.6%) | 3% 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.