North Carolina · FIPS 37129 · HUD FY 2027
New Hanover County, North Carolina Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in New Hanover County is $1,705 a month (rent plus utilities), 18% above the North Carolina average of $1,441 and 3% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $46 (2.8%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $68,200 a year to afford it.
- $1,7052-bedroom FMR+$46 (+2.8%) vs FY 2026
- $1,5661-bedroom FMRNorth Carolina: $1,282 · U.S.: $1,478
- $68,200Income for a 2-bedroom$33/hour full-time
- 11 of 1002BR rank in North Carolina1 = highest rent
| Unit | New Hanover County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,187 | $1,144 | +$43 (+3.8%) | $1,215 | $1,379 | $47,480 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,566 | $1,513 | +$53 (+3.5%) | $1,282 | $1,478 | $62,640 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,705 | $1,659 | +$46 (+2.8%) | $1,441 | $1,761 | $68,200 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,238 | $2,178 | +$60 (+2.8%) | $1,823 | $2,266 | $89,520 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,241 | $2,319 | −$78 (−3.4%) | $2,256 | $2,607 | $89,640 |
How New Hanover County compares
- HUD sets this rent for the Wilmington, NC metro FMR area, which covers 235,229 residents in 1 county.
- Across North Carolina, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,012 (Wilkes County) to $1,866 (Buncombe County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $1,187, $1,566, $1,705, $2,238, $2,241. 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 10 ZIP codes mostly in New Hanover County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,500 to $2,560.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in New Hanover County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28401 | $1,040 | $1,380 | $1,500 | $1,970 | $2,090 | +$70 (+4.9%) | 12% below |
| 28403 | $1,180 | $1,550 | $1,690 | $2,220 | $2,220 | +$40 (+2.4%) | 1% below |
| 28405 | $1,210 | $1,600 | $1,740 | $2,280 | $2,290 | +$30 (+1.8%) | 2% above |
| 28409 | $1,350 | $1,780 | $1,940 | $2,550 | $2,550 | −$20 (−1.0%) | 14% above |
| 28411 | $1,470 | $1,930 | $2,100 | $2,770 | $2,800 | +$60 (+2.9%) | 23% above |
| 28412 | $1,240 | $1,640 | $1,780 | $2,340 | $2,340 | +$40 (+2.3%) | 4% above |
| 28428 | $1,280 | $1,690 | $1,840 | $2,420 | $2,420 | +$50 (+2.8%) | 8% above |
| 28429 | $1,030 | $1,370 | $1,500 | $1,970 | $2,090 | +$70 (+4.9%) | 12% below |
| 28449 | $1,220 | $1,610 | $1,750 | $2,300 | $2,300 | −$10 (−0.6%) | 3% above |
| 28480 | $1,780 | $2,350 | $2,560 | $3,360 | $3,360 | +$90 (+3.6%) | 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.