North Carolina · FIPS 37039 · HUD FY 2027
Cherokee County, North Carolina Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Cherokee County is $1,012 a month (rent plus utilities), 30% below the North Carolina average of $1,441 and 43% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $77 (8.2%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $40,480 a year to afford it.
- $1,0122-bedroom FMR+$77 (+8.2%) vs FY 2026
- $8171-bedroom FMRNorth Carolina: $1,282 · U.S.: $1,478
- $40,480Income for a 2-bedroom$19/hour full-time
- 66 of 1002BR rank in North Carolina1 = highest rent
| Unit | Cherokee County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $705 | $645 | +$60 (+9.3%) | $1,215 | $1,379 | $28,200 |
| 1 bedroom | $817 | $713 | +$104 (+14.6%) | $1,282 | $1,478 | $32,680 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,012 | $935 | +$77 (+8.2%) | $1,441 | $1,761 | $40,480 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,343 | $1,290 | +$53 (+4.1%) | $1,823 | $2,266 | $53,720 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,585 | $1,497 | +$88 (+5.9%) | $2,256 | $2,607 | $63,400 |
How Cherokee County compares
- Cherokee County is a non-metro county, so HUD sets one Fair Market Rent for the whole county.
- Across North Carolina, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,012 (Wilkes County) to $1,866 (Buncombe County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $705, $817, $1,012, $1,343, $1,585. 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 3 ZIP codes mostly in Cherokee County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,010 to $1,140.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Cherokee County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28901 | $700 | $820 | $1,010 | $1,340 | $1,590 | +$80 (+8.6%) | about the same as |
| 28905 | $790 | $920 | $1,140 | $1,510 | $1,790 | +$90 (+8.6%) | 13% above |
| 28906 | $800 | $860 | $1,010 | $1,340 | $1,590 | +$80 (+8.6%) | about the same as |
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.