North Carolina · FIPS 37109 · HUD FY 2027
Lincoln County, North Carolina Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Lincoln County is $1,138 a month (rent plus utilities), 21% below the North Carolina average of $1,441 and 35% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $84 (8.0%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $45,520 a year to afford it.
- $1,1382-bedroom FMR+$84 (+8.0%) vs FY 2026
- $1,0451-bedroom FMRNorth Carolina: $1,282 · U.S.: $1,478
- $45,520Income for a 2-bedroom$22/hour full-time
- 52 of 1002BR rank in North Carolina1 = highest rent
| Unit | Lincoln County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,003 | $917 | +$86 (+9.4%) | $1,215 | $1,379 | $40,120 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,045 | $953 | +$92 (+9.7%) | $1,282 | $1,478 | $41,800 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,138 | $1,054 | +$84 (+8.0%) | $1,441 | $1,761 | $45,520 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,576 | $1,461 | +$115 (+7.9%) | $1,823 | $2,266 | $63,040 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,902 | $1,728 | +$174 (+10.1%) | $2,256 | $2,607 | $76,080 |
How Lincoln County compares
- HUD sets this rent for the Lincoln County, NC metro FMR area, which covers 92,716 residents in 1 county.
- Across North Carolina, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,012 (Wilkes County) to $1,866 (Buncombe County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $1,003, $1,045, $1,138, $1,576, $1,902. 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 Lincoln County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,030 to $1,330.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Lincoln County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28033 | $940 | $970 | $1,060 | $1,410 | $1,730 | +$100 (+10.4%) | 7% below |
| 28037 | $1,160 | $1,200 | $1,320 | $1,800 | $2,180 | +$70 (+5.6%) | 16% above |
| 28080 | $1,170 | $1,220 | $1,330 | $1,840 | $2,220 | +$50 (+3.9%) | 17% above |
| 28092 | $960 | $1,000 | $1,090 | $1,510 | $1,820 | +$80 (+7.9%) | 4% below |
| 28168 | $890 | $920 | $1,030 | $1,360 | $1,650 | −$30 (−2.8%) | 9% 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.