Texas · FIPS 48209 · HUD FY 2027
Hays County, Texas Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Hays County is $1,817 a month (rent plus utilities), 22% above the Texas average of $1,488 and 3% above the U.S. average of $1,761. That is down $35 (1.9%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $72,680 a year to afford it.
- $1,8172-bedroom FMR−$35 (−1.9%) vs FY 2026
- $1,5301-bedroom FMRTexas: $1,247 · U.S.: $1,478
- $72,680Income for a 2-bedroom$35/hour full-time
- 1 of 2542BR rank in Texas1 = highest rent
| Unit | Hays County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Texas avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,447 | $1,474 | −$27 (−1.8%) | $1,192 | $1,379 | $57,880 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,530 | $1,562 | −$32 (−2.0%) | $1,247 | $1,478 | $61,200 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,817 | $1,852 | −$35 (−1.9%) | $1,488 | $1,761 | $72,680 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,292 | $2,347 | −$55 (−2.3%) | $1,939 | $2,266 | $91,680 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,689 | $2,760 | −$71 (−2.6%) | $2,341 | $2,607 | $107,560 |
How Hays County compares
- HUD sets this rent for the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro FMR area, which covers 2,426,592 residents in 5 counties.
- Across Texas, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,014 (Zavala County) to $1,817 (Bastrop County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $1,447, $1,530, $1,817, $2,292, $2,689. 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 7 ZIP codes mostly in Hays County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,410 to $2,370.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Hays County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78610 | $1,510 | $1,590 | $1,890 | $2,380 | $2,800 | +$10 (+0.5%) | 4% above |
| 78619 | $1,330 | $1,410 | $1,670 | $2,120 | $2,490 | −$90 (−5.1%) | 8% below |
| 78620 | $1,500 | $1,590 | $1,890 | $2,390 | $2,800 | +$40 (+2.2%) | 4% above |
| 78640 | $1,410 | $1,490 | $1,770 | $2,230 | $2,620 | −$40 (−2.2%) | 3% below |
| 78666 | $1,120 | $1,190 | $1,410 | $1,780 | $2,090 | −$70 (−4.7%) | 22% below |
| 78676 | $1,250 | $1,320 | $1,570 | $1,980 | $2,320 | +$10 (+0.6%) | 14% below |
| 78737 | $1,890 | $2,000 | $2,370 | $2,990 | $3,510 | −$110 (−4.4%) | 30% 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.