Maryland · FIPS 24011 · HUD FY 2027
Caroline County, Maryland Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Caroline County is $1,320 a month (rent plus utilities), 37% below the Maryland average of $2,103 and 25% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $6 (0.5%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $52,800 a year to afford it.
- $1,3202-bedroom FMR+$6 (+0.5%) vs FY 2026
- $1,0091-bedroom FMRMaryland: $1,801 · U.S.: $1,478
- $52,800Income for a 2-bedroom$25/hour full-time
- 17 of 242BR rank in Maryland1 = highest rent
| Unit | Caroline County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Maryland avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,002 | $995 | +$7 (+0.7%) | $1,704 | $1,379 | $40,080 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,009 | $1,001 | +$8 (+0.8%) | $1,801 | $1,478 | $40,360 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,320 | $1,314 | +$6 (+0.5%) | $2,103 | $1,761 | $52,800 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,623 | $1,642 | −$19 (−1.2%) | $2,664 | $2,266 | $64,920 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,188 | $2,184 | +$4 (+0.2%) | $3,052 | $2,607 | $87,520 |
How Caroline County compares
- Caroline County is a non-metro county, so HUD sets one Fair Market Rent for the whole county.
- Across Maryland, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,014 (Garrett County) to $2,438 (Charles County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $1,002, $1,009, $1,320, $1,623, $2,188. 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 8 ZIP codes mostly in Caroline County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,190 to $1,920.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Caroline County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21629 | $1,030 | $1,030 | $1,350 | $1,660 | $2,240 | −$50 (−3.6%) | 2% above |
| 21632 | $920 | $940 | $1,210 | $1,520 | $2,010 | no change | 8% below |
| 21636 | $1,400 | $1,410 | $1,850 | $2,280 | $3,070 | +$320 (+20.9%) | 40% above |
| 21639 | $1,000 | $1,010 | $1,320 | $1,620 | $2,190 | +$10 (+0.8%) | same |
| 21640 | $1,460 | $1,470 | $1,920 | $2,360 | $3,130 | +$80 (+4.3%) | 45% above |
| 21641 | $900 | $910 | $1,190 | $1,480 | $1,970 | +$20 (+1.7%) | 10% below |
| 21655 | $1,140 | $1,150 | $1,500 | $1,840 | $2,490 | +$70 (+4.9%) | 14% above |
| 21660 | $970 | $980 | $1,280 | $1,570 | $2,120 | +$30 (+2.4%) | 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.