South Carolina · FIPS 45035 · HUD FY 2027
Dorchester County, South Carolina Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Dorchester County is $1,884 a month (rent plus utilities), 35% above the South Carolina average of $1,391 and 7% above the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $97 (5.4%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $75,360 a year to afford it.
- $1,8842-bedroom FMR+$97 (+5.4%) vs FY 2026
- $1,7311-bedroom FMRSouth Carolina: $1,243 · U.S.: $1,478
- $75,360Income for a 2-bedroom$36/hour full-time
- 2 of 462BR rank in South Carolina1 = highest rent
| Unit | Dorchester County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | South Carolina avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,661 | $1,557 | +$104 (+6.7%) | $1,168 | $1,379 | $66,440 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,731 | $1,630 | +$101 (+6.2%) | $1,243 | $1,478 | $69,240 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,884 | $1,787 | +$97 (+5.4%) | $1,391 | $1,761 | $75,360 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,336 | $2,222 | +$114 (+5.1%) | $1,715 | $2,266 | $93,440 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,687 | $2,562 | +$125 (+4.9%) | $2,003 | $2,607 | $107,480 |
How Dorchester County compares
- HUD sets this rent for the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro FMR area, which covers 834,267 residents in 3 counties.
- Across South Carolina, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $885 (Williamsburg County) to $2,010 (Beaufort County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $1,661, $1,731, $1,884, $2,336, $2,687. 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 8 ZIP codes mostly in Dorchester County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,170 to $1,860.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Dorchester County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29420 | $1,630 | $1,700 | $1,850 | $2,290 | $2,640 | +$60 (+3.4%) | 2% below |
| 29437 | $1,020 | $1,060 | $1,170 | $1,460 | $1,770 | −$130 (−10.0%) | 38% below |
| 29448 | $1,020 | $1,060 | $1,170 | $1,460 | $1,770 | −$130 (−10.0%) | 38% below |
| 29471 | $1,020 | $1,070 | $1,170 | $1,460 | $1,770 | −$130 (−10.0%) | 38% below |
| 29472 | $1,250 | $1,300 | $1,430 | $1,770 | $2,040 | +$60 (+4.4%) | 24% below |
| 29477 | $1,050 | $1,090 | $1,190 | $1,470 | $1,770 | −$110 (−8.5%) | 37% below |
| 29483 | $1,390 | $1,450 | $1,580 | $1,960 | $2,250 | +$70 (+4.6%) | 16% below |
| 29485 | $1,640 | $1,710 | $1,860 | $2,310 | $2,650 | +$100 (+5.7%) | 1% 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.