Texas · FIPS 48227 · HUD FY 2027
Howard County, Texas Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Howard County is $1,217 a month (rent plus utilities), 18% below the Texas average of $1,488 and 31% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $44 (3.8%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $48,680 a year to afford it.
- $1,2172-bedroom FMR+$44 (+3.8%) vs FY 2026
- $9541-bedroom FMRTexas: $1,247 · U.S.: $1,478
- $48,680Income for a 2-bedroom$23/hour full-time
- 75 of 2542BR rank in Texas1 = highest rent
| Unit | Howard County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Texas avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $948 | $918 | +$30 (+3.3%) | $1,192 | $1,379 | $37,920 |
| 1 bedroom | $954 | $924 | +$30 (+3.2%) | $1,247 | $1,478 | $38,160 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,217 | $1,173 | +$44 (+3.8%) | $1,488 | $1,761 | $48,680 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,492 | $1,406 | +$86 (+6.1%) | $1,939 | $2,266 | $59,680 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,812 | $1,726 | +$86 (+5.0%) | $2,341 | $2,607 | $72,480 |
How Howard County compares
- Howard County is a non-metro county, so HUD sets one Fair Market Rent for the whole county.
- Across Texas, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,014 (Zavala County) to $1,817 (Bastrop County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $948, $954, $1,217, $1,492, $1,812. 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 5 ZIP codes mostly in Howard County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,210 to $1,600.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Howard County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79511 | $1,000 | $1,010 | $1,280 | $1,580 | $1,910 | +$10 (+0.8%) | 5% above |
| 79720 | $1,290 | $1,300 | $1,600 | $2,000 | $2,460 | −$90 (−5.3%) | 31% above |
| 79721 | $940 | $950 | $1,210 | $1,480 | $1,800 | +$40 (+3.4%) | 1% below |
| 79733 | $940 | $950 | $1,210 | $1,480 | $1,800 | +$40 (+3.4%) | 1% below |
| 79748 | $1,290 | $1,300 | $1,600 | $2,000 | $2,460 | −$90 (−5.3%) | 31% 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.