North Carolina · FIPS 37193 · HUD FY 2027
Wilkes County, North Carolina Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Wilkes 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
- $8751-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 | Wilkes 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 | $875 | $793 | +$82 (+10.3%) | $1,282 | $1,478 | $35,000 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,012 | $925 | +$87 (+9.4%) | $1,441 | $1,761 | $40,480 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,357 | $1,233 | +$124 (+10.1%) | $1,823 | $2,266 | $54,280 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,554 | $1,538 | +$16 (+1.0%) | $2,256 | $2,607 | $62,160 |
How Wilkes County compares
- Wilkes 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, $875, $1,012, $1,357, $1,554. 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 12 ZIP codes mostly in Wilkes County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,010 to $1,260.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Wilkes County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28606 | $900 | $910 | $1,070 | $1,360 | $1,620 | +$120 (+12.6%) | 6% above |
| 28624 | $870 | $910 | $1,070 | $1,390 | $1,660 | +$100 (+10.3%) | 6% above |
| 28635 | $880 | $890 | $1,040 | $1,370 | $1,600 | +$80 (+8.3%) | 3% above |
| 28649 | $870 | $880 | $1,020 | $1,370 | $1,560 | +$80 (+8.5%) | 1% above |
| 28651 | $860 | $870 | $1,010 | $1,360 | $1,550 | +$80 (+8.6%) | about the same as |
| 28654 | $1,070 | $1,090 | $1,260 | $1,670 | $1,930 | +$60 (+5.0%) | 25% above |
| 28659 | $900 | $910 | $1,050 | $1,410 | $1,610 | +$60 (+6.1%) | 4% above |
| 28665 | $860 | $870 | $1,010 | $1,360 | $1,550 | +$80 (+8.6%) | about the same as |
| 28669 | $870 | $880 | $1,030 | $1,370 | $1,570 | +$100 (+10.8%) | 2% above |
| 28670 | $860 | $870 | $1,010 | $1,360 | $1,550 | +$80 (+8.6%) | about the same as |
| 28685 | $880 | $890 | $1,030 | $1,380 | $1,580 | +$100 (+10.8%) | 2% above |
| 28697 | $870 | $880 | $1,020 | $1,370 | $1,570 | +$90 (+9.7%) | 1% 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.