North Carolina · FIPS 37105 · HUD FY 2027
Lee County, North Carolina Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Lee County is $1,179 a month (rent plus utilities), 18% below the North Carolina average of $1,441 and 33% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $43 (3.8%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $47,160 a year to afford it.
- $1,1792-bedroom FMR+$43 (+3.8%) vs FY 2026
- $9121-bedroom FMRNorth Carolina: $1,282 · U.S.: $1,478
- $47,160Income for a 2-bedroom$23/hour full-time
- 42 of 1002BR rank in North Carolina1 = highest rent
| Unit | Lee County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $906 | $874 | +$32 (+3.7%) | $1,215 | $1,379 | $36,240 |
| 1 bedroom | $912 | $880 | +$32 (+3.6%) | $1,282 | $1,478 | $36,480 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,179 | $1,136 | +$43 (+3.8%) | $1,441 | $1,761 | $47,160 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,405 | $1,362 | +$43 (+3.2%) | $1,823 | $2,266 | $56,200 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,805 | $1,715 | +$90 (+5.2%) | $2,256 | $2,607 | $72,200 |
How Lee County compares
- Lee 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: $906, $912, $1,179, $1,405, $1,805. 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 Lee County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,180 to $1,540.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Lee County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27330 | $1,280 | $1,360 | $1,540 | $1,910 | $2,280 | −$150 (−8.9%) | 31% above |
| 27332 | $990 | $1,000 | $1,250 | $1,560 | $1,960 | +$50 (+4.2%) | 6% above |
| 28355 | $910 | $910 | $1,180 | $1,410 | $1,810 | +$40 (+3.5%) | 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.