North Carolina · FIPS 37027 · HUD FY 2027
Caldwell County, North Carolina Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Caldwell County is $1,147 a month (rent plus utilities), 20% below the North Carolina average of $1,441 and 35% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $52 (4.7%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $45,880 a year to afford it.
- $1,1472-bedroom FMR+$52 (+4.7%) vs FY 2026
- $9651-bedroom FMRNorth Carolina: $1,282 · U.S.: $1,478
- $45,880Income for a 2-bedroom$22/hour full-time
- 47 of 1002BR rank in North Carolina1 = highest rent
| Unit | Caldwell County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $961 | $858 | +$103 (+12.0%) | $1,215 | $1,379 | $38,440 |
| 1 bedroom | $965 | $908 | +$57 (+6.3%) | $1,282 | $1,478 | $38,600 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,147 | $1,095 | +$52 (+4.7%) | $1,441 | $1,761 | $45,880 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,399 | $1,372 | +$27 (+2.0%) | $1,823 | $2,266 | $55,960 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,707 | $1,660 | +$47 (+2.8%) | $2,256 | $2,607 | $68,280 |
How Caldwell County compares
- HUD sets this rent for the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro FMR area, which covers 368,316 residents in 4 counties.
- Across North Carolina, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,012 (Wilkes County) to $1,866 (Buncombe County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $961, $965, $1,147, $1,399, $1,707. 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 Caldwell County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,010 to $1,130.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Caldwell County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28611 | $870 | $920 | $1,100 | $1,390 | $1,700 | +$70 (+6.8%) | 4% below |
| 28630 | $950 | $950 | $1,130 | $1,380 | $1,680 | +$20 (+1.8%) | 1% below |
| 28638 | $850 | $850 | $1,010 | $1,240 | $1,510 | +$60 (+6.3%) | 12% below |
| 28645 | $850 | $890 | $1,060 | $1,360 | $1,780 | −$90 (−7.8%) | 8% below |
| 28667 | $910 | $910 | $1,080 | $1,320 | $1,610 | +$50 (+4.9%) | 6% 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.