Washington · FIPS 53073 · HUD FY 2027
Whatcom County, Washington Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Whatcom County is $1,872 a month (rent plus utilities), 8% below the Washington average of $2,044 and 6% above the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $78 (4.3%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $74,880 a year to afford it.
- $1,8722-bedroom FMR+$78 (+4.3%) vs FY 2026
- $1,5291-bedroom FMRWashington: $1,701 · U.S.: $1,478
- $74,880Income for a 2-bedroom$36/hour full-time
- 9 of 392BR rank in Washington1 = highest rent
| Unit | Whatcom County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Washington avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,489 | $1,463 | +$26 (+1.8%) | $1,600 | $1,379 | $59,560 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,529 | $1,493 | +$36 (+2.4%) | $1,701 | $1,478 | $61,160 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,872 | $1,794 | +$78 (+4.3%) | $2,044 | $1,761 | $74,880 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,545 | $2,495 | +$50 (+2.0%) | $2,728 | $2,266 | $101,800 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,129 | $3,010 | +$119 (+4.0%) | $3,214 | $2,607 | $125,160 |
How Whatcom County compares
- HUD sets this rent for the Bellingham, WA metro FMR area, which covers 230,503 residents in 1 county.
- Across Washington, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,058 (Ferry County) to $2,549 (King County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $1,489, $1,529, $1,872, $2,545, $3,129. 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 Whatcom County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,620 to $2,030.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Whatcom County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98220 | $1,320 | $1,350 | $1,620 | $2,250 | $2,710 | +$40 (+2.5%) | 13% below |
| 98225 | $1,530 | $1,570 | $1,920 | $2,610 | $3,210 | +$100 (+5.5%) | 3% above |
| 98226 | $1,470 | $1,510 | $1,850 | $2,520 | $3,090 | +$90 (+5.1%) | 1% below |
| 98229 | $1,560 | $1,600 | $1,960 | $2,660 | $3,270 | +$70 (+3.7%) | 5% above |
| 98230 | $1,430 | $1,470 | $1,800 | $2,450 | $3,010 | +$90 (+5.3%) | 4% below |
| 98240 | $1,440 | $1,480 | $1,810 | $2,470 | $3,030 | +$60 (+3.4%) | 3% below |
| 98244 | $1,320 | $1,350 | $1,620 | $2,250 | $2,710 | +$140 (+9.5%) | 13% below |
| 98247 | $1,500 | $1,540 | $1,890 | $2,570 | $3,160 | +$120 (+6.8%) | 1% above |
| 98248 | $1,420 | $1,460 | $1,790 | $2,430 | $2,990 | +$20 (+1.1%) | 4% below |
| 98262 | $1,350 | $1,480 | $1,940 | $2,690 | $3,000 | −$10 (−0.5%) | 4% above |
| 98264 | $1,590 | $1,630 | $2,000 | $2,720 | $3,340 | +$60 (+3.1%) | 7% above |
| 98266 | $1,320 | $1,350 | $1,650 | $2,250 | $2,760 | +$70 (+4.4%) | 12% below |
| 98276 | $1,610 | $1,660 | $2,030 | $2,760 | $3,390 | +$50 (+2.5%) | 8% above |
| 98281 | $1,320 | $1,350 | $1,620 | $2,250 | $2,710 | +$140 (+9.5%) | 13% below |
| 98283 | $1,320 | $1,350 | $1,620 | $2,250 | $2,710 | −$60 (−3.6%) | 13% below |
| 98295 | $1,320 | $1,350 | $1,620 | $2,250 | $2,710 | +$80 (+5.2%) | 13% 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.