North Carolina · FIPS 37111 · HUD FY 2027
McDowell County, North Carolina Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in McDowell 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 $87 (9.4%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $40,480 a year to afford it.
- $1,0122-bedroom FMR+$87 (+9.4%) vs FY 2026
- $9101-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 | McDowell County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $864 | $782 | +$82 (+10.5%) | $1,215 | $1,379 | $34,560 |
| 1 bedroom | $910 | $790 | +$120 (+15.2%) | $1,282 | $1,478 | $36,400 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,012 | $925 | +$87 (+9.4%) | $1,441 | $1,761 | $40,480 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,289 | $1,180 | +$109 (+9.2%) | $1,823 | $2,266 | $51,560 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,330 | $1,225 | +$105 (+8.6%) | $2,256 | $2,607 | $53,200 |
How McDowell County compares
- McDowell 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: $864, $910, $1,012, $1,289, $1,330. 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 4 ZIP codes mostly in McDowell County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,010 to $1,660.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in McDowell County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28749 | $820 | $850 | $1,010 | $1,270 | $1,350 | +$80 (+8.6%) | about the same as |
| 28752 | $860 | $910 | $1,010 | $1,290 | $1,360 | +$60 (+6.3%) | about the same as |
| 28761 | $1,000 | $1,050 | $1,170 | $1,490 | $1,560 | +$180 (+18.2%) | 16% above |
| 28762 | $1,300 | $1,510 | $1,660 | $2,010 | $2,780 | +$230 (+16.1%) | 64% above |
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.